The Ministry of Health (Minsa) issued a new Biosafety Sanitary Guide for the prevention and control of Covid-19 in official and private educational centers, higher technical institutes and universities, both official and private.
After a meeting of the permanent technical table between the Minsa and the Ministry of Education (Meduca), the new guide was approved, which establishes that all educational entities must have a protocol, where mechanisms are established to implement and monitor compliance with Recommended prevention and control measures for a safe return to classes.
The Regional Directorates of the Minsa must coordinate with the Meduca and the National Council for University Evaluation and Accreditation of Panama (Coneupa) as appropriate, the inspections that are considered necessary to verify compliance with health standards.
It was agreed that official and private education centers should establish their “Special Health and Hygiene Committee for the Prevention and Care of Covid-19”, made up of a minimum of 2 to 6 people, depending on the size of the institution. It must be made up of the campus management, teaching staff, administrators and parents’ association, who will be responsible for organizing, implementing and daily monitoring the prevention and control actions of the established measures.
The guide establishes that all centers must comply with biosecurity measures for the prevention and control of the virus, including hand washing, use of masks, physical distancing and face shields. They must also comply with the cleaning and disinfection of surfaces, waste management, special hours, monitoring of members of the educational community and stress management, among others.
In educational centers, correct hygiene must be carried out with soap and water or use alcohol gel when entering the center, before and after eating and after going to the bathroom.
The use of a mask is mandatory for all teachers, administrators, students and other people (parents, providers, among others) to enter educational centers and during mobilization on school buses or public transport.
In addition to the mask, the use of a facial protector (screen or face mask) is recommended as an additional protector. The use of the face shield does not exempt the use of the mask.
The capacity on school buses will be 100%, but maintaining the use of the mask.
The centers must condition the spaces to guarantee the minimum distance between the students inside the classroom.
It is indicated in the guide that each educational center will establish staggered schedules for the entry and exit of the days, breaks or other activities that are carried out during the school year.
They must also limit the entry of visitors, volunteers or other non-essential personnel into educational centers, as well as the performance of non-essential activities that involve crowds.
80% of students over 12 years of age are already vaccinated against Covid-19, while vaccination of children between 5 and 11 years of age reaches more than 30% of that population.
To facilitate vaccination in the student population, on March 14, dose application sessions will be held at primary levels, while on March 21 it will be carried out among middle and high school students.
