STA, 9 August 2022 - The new school year is to kick off with home coronavirus testing for those showing symptoms and for those who were in contact with an infected person, experts have decided. Classrooms are to be ventilated very frequently, as often as every 20 minutes during the winter, while windows should remain open during warmer seasons.
An education task force, one of the sub-groups within the National Institute of Public Health's coronavirus advisory group, today expressed support for the guidelines the advisory group put together last week.
Nives Počkar from the Secondary School Headteacher Association told the STA that the main goal was to avoid shutting down schools. She hopes people will accept home testing as part of a responsible attitude required so that schools and preschools remain open.
The plan entails two scenarios that will be implemented depending on epidemiologic situation.
If the situation remains similar to now, home testing will be obligatory for those with infection symptoms and those who have been in contact with an infected person.
However, if a new variant creating a high risk of severe illness starts spreading, a second scenario will be implemented, requiring weekly home testing for all students and teachers.
In both cases, home tests will be available for students free of charge at pharmacies.
The education task force also supports the recommendation of frequent ventilation of classrooms, Počkar said.
Since only few schools have ventilation systems installed, ventilation will be created by opening windows.
