In Flemish schools, there are more infections with the corona virus among the oldest students. Second and third grade secondary school students report more than half of all infections among students. This has emerged from the contact survey conducted by the Pupil Guidance Centers (CLBs) for the period between October 26 and November 8.
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The new figures from the CLBs, published by the Flemish Minister of Education Ben Weyts, show a decrease in the number of quarantines and the number of infections among students. The period does of course include the first week of the autumn holiday (from 2 to 8 November).
In the period between October 26 and November 8, 1,144 staff (0.7 percent) and 22,343 students (1.87 percent) were quarantined. A positive Covid test was administered to 3,623 students (0.3 percent) and 1,965 staff (1.2 percent). According to Minister Weyts, the increase in the number of infections among employees may be related to the further increase in the number of infections in general society in the last week before the autumn holiday.
First grade students are doing well
The research also shows that there are more infections among the oldest students. Second and third grade secondary school students report more than half of all infections among students. It is this group that can only receive a maximum of 50 percent contact education after the autumn break. “It is striking that the figures show no difference between the number of infections in the first stage of secondary education and the number of infections in primary school,” emphasizes the Flemish Minister of Education.
According to Weyts, it was an atypical period, with the last week before the autumn holiday on the one hand, with a further increase in the number of infections in the wider community, and on the other hand the first week of the autumn holiday in which the schools were closed. ‘In the meantime, two incubation periods have passed due to the extended autumn holiday. All necessary quarantines for teachers and students have passed, ”says Weyts.
Every two weeks, the Flemish education field provides transparency about the contact investigation of the CLBs, the number of infections and the number of quarantines at school. The CLBs also keep their finger on the pulse during the extended autumn holiday, according to Weyts. In the first week of the autumn break, the contact investigation was continued and reports of infections were still received.
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