Omicron: NCDC Releases New COVID-19 Guidelines To Schools

Following the detection of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the country, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has issued new guidelines to schools.

The health agency, in its latest COVID-19 situation report released on Tuesday, advised school administrators to ensure the provision of handwashing facilities and hand sanitizers for hand hygiene in schools.

According to the NCDC, school authorities across the nation must also ensure daily temperature checks at points of entry and send home students and teachers with high temperatures.

It also recommended the use of approved rapid diagnostic test kits in secondary school hostels and university campuses for testing of students and staff upon school resumption.

The NCDC, however, urged all school administrations to comply with public health guidelines and take adequate measures to avoid the spread of the virus in the country.

Below are the listed guidelines as released by the NCDC:

It reads: “School administrators should ensure the following to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission within schools: Daily temperature checks at points of entry. Those with a temperature above 38oC should not be allowed entry.”

“Provision of handwashing facilities and hand sanitizers for hand hygiene. Masks must be worn by all those over the age of 6 years on school premises.

“Always ensure proper ventilation and minimum of the one-metre sitting distance between students in classrooms. Surfaces including desks, door handles etc. should be disinfected at least twice; at break time and at the end of the school day.

“Avoid sharing of items such as pencils, biros, erasers, rulers, textbooks. Staff at sickbay should be trained and provided with required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Students and staff who feel ill should remain at home and seek treatment at a health facility immediately.

“All eligible persons should get vaccinated against COVID-19 at one of the nearby vaccination sites. Those who are vaccinated must still adhere to public health measures.

“Additionally, NCDC recommends the use of approved rapid diagnostic test kits in secondary school hostels and university campuses for testing of student and staff upon school resumption and for those experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 during the school session.”