The new school year will start with self-testing for COVID
STA, August 9, 2022 – The new school year will begin with at-home testing for the coronavirus for those showing symptoms and those who have been in contact with an infected person, experts have decided. Classrooms should be ventilated very often, every 20 minutes in winter, and windows should be left open in warmer seasons.
The Education Task Force, one of the subgroups within the National Institute of Public Health’s coronavirus advisory group, today expressed support for the guidelines the advisory group drafted last week.
Nives Počkar from the Association of Secondary School Principals told STA that the main goal is to prevent the closing of schools. He hopes people will accept home testing as part of the responsible attitude needed to keep schools and daycares open.
The plan contains two scenarios that will be implemented depending on the epidemiological situation.
If the situation remains as it is now, home testing will be mandatory for those with symptoms of infection and those who have been in contact with an infected person.
But if a new variant that creates a high risk of severe disease begins to spread, a second scenario will be introduced, requiring weekly home testing for all students and teachers.
In both cases, home tests will be available to students free of charge at pharmacies.
The project group for education also supports the recommendation of frequent ventilation of classrooms, Počkar said.
Since only a few schools have built-in ventilation systems, ventilation will be created by opening windows.