The outgoing cabinet decided to physically close primary schools, secondary schools and higher education a week before the Christmas holidays, as a precaution due to the emerging omikron variant. By building in a buffer between the last day of classes and the holidays, the cabinet hoped that fewer elderly people would become infected by their grandchildren during the holidays.
It was said that the intention was to reopen the schools after the Christmas holidays on January 10. Whether that will happen is not yet clear. The cabinet will make a decision on this on 3 January.
There are cautiously positive reports that the omikron variant is less pathogenic. At the same time, it seems that omikron is more contagious than the delta variant. This can cause many more people to become ill in a short period of time, increasing the pressure on hospitals. “If it is in any way justified, I advocate that schools can open again,” pediatrician and OMT member Károly Illy said yesterday. against the NOS. “But that should be possible in relation to the models of the RIVM.”
Extra security
Amsterdam primary schools want to have students from group 8 take physical lessons again from January 10, whatever the cabinet decides. That they announced on Monday. They say they feel surprised by the often late decisions of the cabinet.
Eva Naaijkens, school principal of the Alan Turing School, noted that good measures for safe teaching at school are often lacking: “It would be great if the discussion could be held nationally. All children should benefit from it.” Field epidemiologist Amrish Baidjoe also thought so: “Think about a lot of attention for ventilation, and starting with CO2 meters in the classroom and windows open and closed. See if mouth-nose masks can be used. Use smaller classes or larger spaces.”
The sixty organizations that are now calling for education to be reopened do not discuss other measures to make education safer in their statement. They do call on: “Look for alternatives to protect people in vulnerable health. Make creative use of space, time and manpower. And also look at other ways in which the concerns of educational staff can be reduced.”
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