The National Commission for Pandemic Response (CNRP) did not agree with the decision of the Ministry of Health (Minsal) to advance and extend the winter holidays for schoolchildren, due to the increase in the circulation of circulatory viruses and in the occupation of beds pediatric ICU. The Minister of Health, Maria Begona Yarzacommented yesterday at the Covid Point that the committee had expressed its support, but this was not effective.
“We want to advance with you the different measures, with the support of the Pandemic Response Committee and especially the team of experts,” said the Minister of Health before the Minister of Education, Marco Antonio Avilawill announce the advancement of the winter holidays.
You may also like:
However, as revealed Thirdthe majority of the committee voted against the measure promoted by the Minsal.
“The council considers, for the most part, that there is uncertainty in the impact that advancing vacations can generate within the saturation of the pediatric care network. Given that, there is no uniform position to recommend the measure”, was the response of the specialists, according to a document cited by the media.
“The issue was widely discussed and there were divided opinions, but the majority voted against advancing the vacation in the terms in which it was proposed. That is why it was defined as a council not to support the measure, ”said one of the members of the committee.
“If the schools could be closed immediately, we all agreed, because it was the peak time, but if the closure was going to be delayed, there was going to be less epidemiological impact, so we do not support the measure,” added another commissioner.
Likewise, some specialists indicated that the committee reviews matters related to the pandemic and Covid-19, not regarding respiratory viruses.
“The council was asked to evaluate this decision, knowing that the advisory council sees pandemic and Covid-19 issues, but we were still asked for our opinion regarding advancing the holidays,” said an expert.
Ministry’s response
In the response of the undersecretary of Public Health, Christopher Squareto the recommendations of the CNRP, expressed the request to the Ministry of Education to advance the vacations, despite the committee’s refusal.
“In a scenario where an increase in the occupancy of critical pediatric beds is projected, with low growth capacity, it seems essential to us to adopt exceptional measures that allow us to protect our capacity to care for children and adolescents and, in turn, not increase the school lag generated during the pandemic,” he said.
“Within this framework, the Ministry of Health has asked the Ministry of Education to adapt the winter vacation calendar to meet both objectives,” he added.
In addition, he pointed out that the care system is in a reconversion phase, but that the process has faced problems such as absenteeism of health personnel and limited infrastructure.
When asked about the CNRP’s refusal, Minister Yarza told Cooperative Radio that “we are part of the Executive (of the committee) and in 95% of the recommendations that they make us we have agreed with them, but we also have the responsibility to make decisions and be transparent with them.”
“We explain the evidence that exists in case of increased viral circulation in children with respect to taking these school breaks. In this case, the school break is one week before the holidays, a period that coincides with the peak of respiratory syncytial virus,” added the Secretary of State, in defense of the measure.
