Last week it was announced that the one metre requirement for social social distancing, as well as rotational learning, would no longer be required in South African schools, so what protections remain?

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has released a circular PDF as well as a gazette notice PDF, both of which give us some insight into what measures are in place to quell COVID-19 in schools.

“Taking into account the resumption of full time schooling, the regulatory provision for 1-meter social distancing in schools has been removed with immediate effect,” the circular reads.

The department states that the following non-pharmaceutical measures should be maintained and adhered to by schools and education offices:

• “Wearing of non-surgical face masks by all learners, teachers, non-teaching staff and visitors.
• Face mask breaks for learners (5 – 15 minutes for every 2 hours during the school day) where they can safely remove their masks in an outdoor area.
• Washing of hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or using hand sanitisers.
• Placing of 70% alcohol-based hand sanitisers in each classroom, at entrances and exits, and near lunchrooms as well as halls so that sanitising of hands should be done when entering and leaving these venues.
• Maintaining good ventilation by opening doors, windows and/or using fans for air circulation.
• School buildings and equipment must be cleaned thoroughly and regularly by following the environmental health cleaning and disinfection protocols. Household bleach is recommended for this purpose. No fogging and spraying of buildings as part of environment cleaning should be done. Instead, surfaces should be wiped with a wet cloth.”

Interestingly the 70 percent hand sanitiser is in line with recommendations from overseas and South African bodies. The American Food and Drug Administration, for example, recommends 60 percent or higher. Locally, in March 2021, the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) set a 60 percent minimum for sanitisers with active ingredients and a 70 percent minimum for sanitisers without active ingredients.

Aside from the above countermeasures directives are also issued for procedures around isolation for those with COVID-19, sports, the vaccination programme and more.

When it comes to isolation it’s a rather shocking as those who test positive, or have been in contact with those that have tested positive, no longer need to isolate.

“ONLY people who have symptoms or are advised by a health care worker should isolate for not more than 7 days after which the learner, teacher, school support staff or official should return to school / office,” the circular continues.

For sports and extracurricular activities there is no restrictions in place at all. Both kinds of spots (contact and non-contact) as well as arts and culture programmes are all free to continue. There is also no restrictions in place when it comes to inter- and intra-school events, so students may again travel to other schools for sport and other events.

Finally, when it comes to vaccinations, students aged 12 – 17 are once again encouraged to receive vaccination and parents are urged to facilitate this.

As for staff regular vaccination should have already occurred and boosters are on the horizon:

“All teachers, non-teaching school staff and officials who were vaccinated using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in June / July 2021, are now eligible for a booster vaccination and are encouraged to visit their nearest health facility, pharmacy or vaccination site for this purpose. Those who received the Pfizer double dose vaccine will qualify for the booster dose 6 months after the second dose,” the vaccination section reads.

Social distancing and the other elements of student and staff protection should be kept in mind as today, 7th February, marks the end of the aforementioned rotational learning and the return to campuses as per government decision.

“On 31 January 2022, Cabinet took a decision to end rotational schooling with immediate effect… a directive is hereby issued for all primary, secondary and special schools from both public and independent schools to resume full time attendance on Monday 07 February 2022. All teachers, non-teaching school staff, all learners as well as all officials should return to school and offices with effect from 07 February 2021,” the circular adds.

[Image – DBE]