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Still face masks or distance rules in secondary schools? ‘We don’t want to close’

This week, the North region started the new school year. Primary and secondary schools are open again, with full classes. Because of corona, things are a bit different than normal, but students do not have to keep a distance of one and a half meters from each other.


The cabinet decided that students do not have to keep their distance from each other because scientists assume that children play a relatively small role in the spread of the corona virus, according to the RIVM site.

‘Child infects an adult less often’

“Most of the spread occurs among adults and from adult family members to children. Spread of COVID-19 among children or from children to adults is less common. Therefore, different advice applies to children than to adults.”


Who should keep their distance now?

These are the rules per age category:

  • Children up to the age of 12 do not need to keep a distance of 1.5 meters from each other and from adults. This also applies to childcare and primary education.
  • Young people aged 13 to 18 do not have to keep a distance of 1.5 meters from each other, but they do need to keep them from others (adults). This applies to all students (regardless of age) in secondary schools.
  • In MBO secondary vocational education and higher education, all students keep a distance of 1.5 meters from each other, regardless of their age.
  • Adults play a greater role in the spread of the new coronavirus. That is why they must always keep a distance of 1.5 meters from each other.

Source: Rijksoverheid.nl


Dutch research

The fact that children play a small role in the spread of the corona virus is also shown by research by the RIVM among 54 Dutch households with an infected family member.

Researchers wanted to know how the virus spreads within a family. The research showed that children are mainly infected by adults, instead of the other way around. Of the 54 families, there was not a single family where a child under the age of 12 was the first to be infected. If a child was already infected, the complaints were often mild.


Nevertheless, this does not mean that children have to cuddle their grandparents again: the chance of transmission from child to adult is small, according to the RIVM, but it is present.

“With the flu virus (influenza) you often see that children easily transmit the virus to each other or to adults. That does not seem to be the case with the new corona virus. The findings from the research are in line with the results of foreign studies in China and other countries. Australia “, state on the site of the RIVM to read.

‘Older teenagers are a danger’

But today, Károly Illy, chairman of the Dutch Pediatric Association and member of the Outbreak Management Team (OMT), reported that he is still concerned. He thinks that older teenagers in particular can actually pose a danger

“We now know that older teens certainly do spread the corona virus. The very last thing we want is for schools to close again,” he says in the AD. “Children in primary school and childcare hardly play a role, but for children of secondary school age it is really different.”


According to Illy, young people hardly suffer from the virus, but it can infect parents, grandparents and teachers. In the AD he says that he still thinks that secondary school students should keep their distance. He advises students to keep one meter apart.

Nuance

In a conversation with RTL Nieuws, Illy nuances his statements somewhat. “I’m not saying that this is the solution now, that all high school students should immediately keep a meter away,” he says. “What I mean is that if there really is a second peak, we have to look at the different options. And as far as I am concerned, keeping a meter distance in the classroom is one of the options. We have to do everything we can to to prevent schools from having to close their doors again. “


How does he envision that, a meter distance between the students? “That distance is practically workable in classes. Especially if students get a permanent buddy for whom that distance does not apply, just as you can sit at a table with someone you know in the catering industry.”

Mouth masks can also be a solution for places where the distance cannot be kept.

‘Confusing’

The General Association of School Leaders (AVS) is not happy with Illy’s statements. “It is confusing for school leaders, teachers, children and parents when politicians or an OMT member always come up with different advice and the status thereof is not always clear. This makes it difficult for school leaders to manage”, says president Petra van Hair.

She therefore argues for autonomy for school leaders, that they can decide for themselves which measures they introduce at school. “They have a great deal of knowledge of their school and the population and can use clear frameworks from the cabinet and the ministry to determine what their teachers and pupils need or what additional measures are needed.”


Mouth caps

This afternoon it was announced that a number of secondary schools in North Holland have decided to make face masks mandatory. The AVS considers this regional approach positive. “We agree with a regional approach in which the school management, together with the GGD and municipalities, draws up a plan that suits his or her school. In addition, it may well be that a school leader in Rotterdam chooses to make masks compulsory, but a school leader can make other decisions in Friesland. “


The AVS also sees that there are concerns among teachers, parents and students. “Of course there are concerns, which is normal. The school leaders will be alert to all developments surrounding the virus in the near future. The last weeks of the past school year went well, let’s hope that this will continue to be the case now.”


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