Data collection is key

If schools are going to remain open during this time, the collection of data and the monitoring of this data is vitally important.

As he spoke during a recent panel discussion hosted by the UWI that looked at Disparities and Inequities in battling COVID-19 in the Caribbean, Professor Clive Landis, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Undergraduate Studies at the UWI and Chair of the UWI COVID-19 Task Force highlighted that he believed this data collection was an important step in the successful reopening schools.

“We need to collect data and monitor the information. If you introduce this you have to be capable of monitoring,” he said.

“Some countries are really at their breaking point when it comes to their testing capacity and some countries having outbreaks can’t test anymore, so it won’t be wise to bring this in.”

He went on to note that when it came to having the discussion on whether or not to keep schools open, it was important to have all stakeholders involved agreeing to any policies arrangements and being comfortable with them, as the priority should be on reopening schools in a safe way.

While some may believe that it was impossible to have schools open during a pandemic, Landis was confident that there were ways to safely keep schools opened during this time, particularly primary and secondary schools.

He advised schools to take advantage of relatively small groups of around 10 to 12 students in a group with one teach and have a strict rule of no mixing within the groups at the school. He stated that this way, if a child or teacher were to contract COVID-19, that group could then be isolated and given treatment and care and the rest of the school could continue.

Landis also urged teachers to take advantage of outdoor spaces and ensure their rooms were well ventilated, as they would have learned that being in an enclosed area raised the transmission risk of the virus.

Finally, he said that the usual protocols such as handwashing done every hour within the group and frequent sanitising should be done, as something so simple played a role in ensuring schools were able to remain open in a safe, effective and efficient way.