MoE Guidelines to be applied when a learner/trainee or Staff Member is Suspected of Being COVID-19 Positive

What will school managers do when a learner/trainee or staff member develops any symptoms of illness in line with COVID-19? These symptoms include new-onset or worsening cough or shortness of breath or at least two of the following symptoms: muscle ache, headache, sore throat, loss of smell or taste, and a fever of 37.50C. If this occurs in an institution or child-care setting:

1. Inform the County Rapid Response Team and the parents of guardians for further action. Isolate the person or child in the designated room while they wait to be picked up by the Rapid Response Team.
2. The institution’s nurse or matron should administer first aid and keep a clear record of the nature of first aid offered and the time administered.
3. Ensure that they have hygiene supplies available including facial tissues, facemasks, and alcohol-based hand rubs.
4. Remind the staff who are monitoring the learner/trainee or staff member with symptoms to practice social distancing where possible.
5. Cordon off the space used for isolation after the sick person leaves. Open it later after proper cleaning and disinfecting has been done.
6. Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces by focusing on areas where the person is known to have been and items touched such as individual desk, recently used toys, bed, and other shared equipment.
7. Wear gloves when cleaning, and wash hands after removing the gloves you were wearing.

What you should do in case your institution is closed due to another COVID-19 outbreak

Going by the indications given by the Ministry of Health, the novel coronavirus pandemic may stay longer unless a cure or a vaccine is found, and that the country must take containment measures to curb the spread. There is a need for the education sector to plan for the potential of having interruptions in educational institutions.

In the event that a COVID-19 case has been detected in an institution, this information should be communicated immediately through an established communication structure and there should be an immediate closure of the institution based on advice from the Ministry of Health to curb the spread of the virus.

The school should then ensure that learners/trainees from the affected institution access quality and inclusive education via various learning environments that are flexible such as:

1. Use of online/e-learning strategies.
2. Enhance access to offline learning materials for learners in the event of no internet connectivity.
3. Provision of study materials for learners while at home.
4. An organized way of supervising learning for learners/trainees when they are at home.
5. Establishment of feedback mechanisms of how learning is taking place away from the institution.
6. Engage parents and guardians so that they can support learning, assessment, and reporting on how learning is taking place at home.
7. Boards of management and institution’s leadership should devise the most appropriate strategies in their own environment to ensure learning is taking place at home.
8. Empower parents and communities to support homeschooling of learners/trainees.
9. Enhancement of internet connectivity and affordability to benefit all learners including those in disadvantaged environments.
10. Ensuring access to Information Technology gadgets such as tablets, computers, etc. to learners to enable e-learning.
11. Strengthen blended learning.