With the introduction of the “safety week” as the main weapon, immediately after returning from the Christmas holidays, the increase of the diagnostic examinations and the protective masks, the schools in Germany operate with a physical presence, but the rules differ from state to state. depending on the assessment of the epidemiological situation by each local government.
The need to use the protective mask was especially mentioned by the Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach, who, in his post on Twitter last night, pointed out that the data from Britain show an increase in the admission of children with the Omicron variant to hospitals. “The mask can adequately protect,” he said.
Last week, schools opened in seven of the country’s 16 L .nder, while today they open in the remaining nine. In most cases, the rule of daily quick tests applies, at least in the first week of returning from vacation. In some states, however, such as Berlin and Thuringia, tests are optional.
For example, in North Rhine-Westphalia, where schools are reopening today with physical presence, the state’s 2.5 million students – including those who have been vaccinated and treated – will have to be tested for the new coronavirus on the first day. The same goes for teachers and other school staff. Then, elementary school students will take two tests per week and older ones three, as well as teachers. Those teachers who are not vaccinated or sick should have a daily negative test.
In Baden-Württemberg the local government imposes daily tests for the first week on both students and teachers, with the exception of those who have already received a booster dose of Covid-19 or patients who have received at least the first dose of the vaccine. . Tests are provided by each school. The use of masks is mandatory by the Elementary School, while in kindergarten and kindergarten masks must be worn by teachers. To this end, the government has provided school staff with 2.5 million FFP-2 masks.
In many schools in Baden-Württemberg and other areas, the practice of “Pooltest” is still applied, where children undergo group molecular tests, which are analyzed as one, without knowing which student is positive or negative. If a case is found, students are re-screened, each individually, with a free PCR test.
In view of the implementation of the “Omicron” variant in the schools in the state, more flexibility is given, they will decide for themselves whether to interrupt the classes with physical presence in case of increase of cases. Excursions have been suspended until at least March 31st.
In Lower Saxony, all students and teachers must be tested this morning before entering school, and the tests will be repeated daily at least until the end of the week. The tests are provided by the school to students and teachers. They are all required to wear an FFP-2 mask, which they must purchase themselves. Until now, the fabric mask was enough for primary school students. The schools will, however, have stock in order to cover possible needs.
Diagnostic tests are not currently mandatory in state kindergartens and daycare centers, although three tests per week continue to be available for each child.
In Brandenburg and Berlin, schools opened on January 3, with a requirement of five tests a week, which students take to school. The Brandenburg government, however, gave younger children the right to stay home until 19 January.
Compulsory tests for all levels of education – including kindergartens and kindergartens – are now starting classes in Bavaria. From now on, if a student does not submit to the school three negative tests per week, he / she is not allowed to be at the school. So far these tests have been optional. For older children, tests are now mandatory for those who have been vaccinated or become ill. The “Pooltest” system is also applied in many schools.
Austria: Physical presence and increased tests on the desks
With a physical presence and stricter protection measures, the schools are operating from today all over Austria, which is also affected by the wave of the Omicron variant of the new coronavirus.
The period until February 28 is characterized as a “safety phase”, with increased tests and rules for distance learning.
The government has in recent days called on parents to make sure their children are screened before returning to school, and gradually, by next week, all students will have to undergo two tests a week.
The use of the mask is mandatory – even during the lesson – in Primary School, while in High School the mask is required to be of the FFP-2 type.
If two cases are found, the whole class automatically applies e-learning.
In particular, in case of a positive test, the child can stay at home without a doctor’s certificate, but must be checked daily for five days.
If within three days a second case is found in the classroom, the whole department continues with distance learning.
At the same time, children over 11 years of age who have received two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine are no longer required to isolate if they have been exposed to a confirmed case.
The same will apply if everyone wore protective masks during contact. In practice, only the detected case itself will be quarantined, which will be released after five days, subject to a negative PCR test, while in many cases, a class will be able to attend classes remotely, but not all its students. to be quarantined.
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