by Yesterday, July 30, 2020, Deputy Minister of Health – Chief State Sanitary Doctor Viktor Lyashko approved the recommendations for organizing the educational process from September 1, 2020. From the beginning of the school year, educational institutions will only be allowed to wear masks or respirators, while masks may not be used in class. Teachers will ask pupils / students about their well-being and will be able to teach in the open air, etc. Temporary recommendations have been developed for institutions of out-of-school, general secondary, special education, as well as vocational and higher education institutions.
From September 1, the entrance to the educational institution will be possible only in a protective mask or respirator. During the quarantine period, the establishments will not allow parents or accompanying persons – except for those accompanying persons with disabilities. In the classroom, protective masks or respirators do not need to be used. At the same time, while moving around the premises of the educational institution, wearing masks is mandatory.
Before classes, teachers will interview pupils / students about their well-being. Those who show symptoms of acute respiratory disease will be promptly referred to a health worker for examination. Staff (teachers, etc.) will be required to take thermometry and will not be allowed to enter an institution with a temperature of more than 37.2 C. However, temperature screening will not be mandatory for pupils and students.
Institutions are also encouraged to adapt the educational process. In particular, to conduct classes in the open air, if possible, provide for the possibility to determine different times for the beginning and end of classes, breaks for different classes and groups, limit the holding of mass events (meetings, meetings, etc.) in closed rooms. The institution will also need to prevent the formation of clusters of pupils / students and minimize their movement between offices and classrooms.
During the quarantine period, educational institutions must ensure the following safety conditions:
places for treating hands with antiseptics at the entrance to all rooms, collection of used masks and gloves in separate containers, sanitary rooms prepared: liquid soap, paper towels or electric hand dryers, posters, banners on respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette, medical posts are equipped: non-contact thermometers, disinfectants, personal protective equipment, markings on the floor to maintain distance and orderly movement along the corridors, airing the premises for at least 10 minutes after each session, cleaning and disinfecting surfaces – door handles, tables, seating, railings, etc. – after classes at the end of the working day.
The recommendations also establish the features of catering. So, during the quarantine period, meals are not allowed as “buffet” and self-service. The institution must also have a student / student meal schedule. The distance between the tables should be at least 1.5 m, and there should be no more than 4 people at the table. Catering workers must wear protective masks and disposable gloves. Workers who provide meals or make payments will additionally wear safety glasses or a visor.
Heads of institutions should also provide explanations and training for staff on how to prevent infection and spread of coronavirus, how to respond to symptoms of COVID-19, how to properly use and dispose of masks / respirators, gloves. In addition, institutions are encouraged to develop emergency algorithms for COVID-19 cases in the institution.
Also, recommendations were established for the transportation of children and employees of the institution in school transport. The carrier must provide drivers with masks / respirators and hand sanitizers, monitor their health on a daily basis and prevent persons with signs of acute respiratory illness and temperatures above 37.2 C from working. The vehicle interior must be disinfected at the beginning and end of the work shift. The entrance to the passenger compartment is carried out with a protective mask / respirator. The number of passengers must be within the seating capacity.
Recall that the nationwide quarantine established in Ukraine due to the COVID-19 pandemic has been extended until August 31, 2020. From August 1, depending on the epidemic situation in each of the regions, one of four levels of epidemic danger will be established – “green”, “yellow”, “orange” or “red”.
The text of the recommendations of the Ministry of Health can be found at the following link.
The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine also recommends that higher education institutions plan the beginning of the school year, taking into account the quarantine restrictions established by Government Decree No. 641. In case of a favorable situation, the Ministry of Education and Science recommends starting the 2020/2021 academic year according to the following schedule:
for 1st year students (bachelors) who this year enroll in higher education institutions from September 1 to September 15, 2020; for senior students, starting from the second, from September 1, 2020; for students (master’s) of the first year of study – from 11 to 15 September 2020.
Source: Ministry of Health
