M.O.H.W. Speaks on COVID Clusters in Schools

The Ministry of Health and Wellness is making certain safety recommendations to schools in light of the increase in COVID-19 cases. The ministry is not recommending that schools close for face to face learning at this time, or that students return to hybrid learning. It is, however, imploring schools to adhere to the health practices that lower the transmission of the COVID-19 virus. These include the washing of hands and the wearing of facemasks. And, in the event a classroom experiences an increase in infections among its students, Dr. Melissa Musa says there are steps to be taken.

Dr. Melissa Musa- Diaz

Dr. Melissa Musa- Diaz, Director of Public Health and Wellness, M.O.H.W.

“We have, by the definition we would say yes, we do have some clusters in certain areas, certain businesses we are seeing a trend of more and more clusters coming out and definitely in some schools. Now, with regards to the schools it is important that we have learnt a lot from COVID 19 and when schools started in the hybrid manner we had quite a successful few months with hybrid learning. Schools have been trying to go back fully, and now that the BA.2 is circulating and we are beginning to see increased numbers it is something we have got to look at the schools individually, but first and foremost, as I said earlier, the public health measures. Trying to stress to the kids and teachers and principals the importance of the public health measures, social distancing, reducing a lot of what we know may cause spread and try to be as strict as possible in the classroom, keeping the classrooms open, having the hand washing done regularly. All these things will help to reduce transmission. And in classes, if you have a class of twenty students and ten or four are positive, w e need to say we need to make a decision for that class. Let’s suspend that class and we go back to hybrid learning. And we have got to wait until that transmission cycle is broken.”