Children and adolescents are less likely to suffer complications from the disease and most present a picture of mild or asymptomatic infection. There is still not a great deal of scientific evidence, however, a study carried out by the Kids Corona project of the San Juan de Dios Hospital shows that the transmission capacity, both towards others of their own age and adults, is equal to that of adults.

The coronavirus is transmitted by direct contact with respiratory droplets that are produced by coughing, sneezing or when someone who is positive spreads them through speech. These drops infect others by entering directly through the nose, eyes or mouth or can be transmitted by people touching their nose, mouth or eyes with dirty hands after touching surfaces contaminated by these drops. These drops can reach distances of 1-2 meters.

People can transmit the infection for a few days before symptoms begin and can transmit being asymptomatic.

The symptoms associated with COVID-19 are very varied; although, the most frequent in childhood and adolescence are fever, cough, shortness of breath, abdominal pain and diarrhea. In addition, the lack of taste and / or smell are frequent symptoms. Other symptoms such as chills, sore throat, headache or muscle pain, and general weakness have also been associated with the disease.

The measures are based on four basic prevention principles: limiting contacts, personal hygiene measures, cleanliness and ventilation, and case management.

A distance of at least 1.5 meters must be maintained between all the people in the educational centre both inside and outside of the classroom, including the entrances and exits of the school. The only exception are people who are part of the same group of students; ‘stable coexistence’.

A stable coexistence group is a group that can amount up to 20 students, together with the tutor, and that must avoid interaction with other groups in the educational centre. They must also limit their number of contacts as much as possible.

Younger children have a need for greater interaction and closeness in care to achieve their educational objectives and proper development. Therefore, organization through stable coexistence groups within the childhood stage is the best way to ensure minimal contacts. By doing this, transmission is reduced through minimizing interactions with other people and it is possible for children to socialize and play with each other without having to strictly maintain interpersonal distance. Likewise, stable coexistence groups facilitate the study of contacts and indications of quarantine when a case occurs.

Our motto « MDM« . Hand hygiene, safe distance and the use of the mandatory mask from 6 years old.

Hand hygiene is the main infection prevention measure. It should be done frequently and meticulously, preferably with soap and water or, failing that, hydroalcoholic gel. It should be taken into account that when the hands have dirt visible to the naked eye, the hydroalcoholic gel is not enough, and it is necessary to use soap and water. This should be done frequently, if possible, always after being in contact with surfaces possibly contaminated or touched by others. In any case, at least at the entrance and exit of the educational centre, before and after the playground, before eating and always after going to the toilet. A minimum of five times a day is recommended. In addition, you must also avoid touching your nose, eyes and mouth with your hands.

The use of reusable hygienic masks or the corporate one from the school is recommended, since they allow adequate protection and better breathability, as well as being a more sustainable option. The use of an FFP2 mask without a filter can be considered for those people with certain health conditions and who are considered to be vulnerable.

A suspected case is considered to be a person with symptoms compatible with Covid-19, who has undergone a PCR and is awaiting the result.

When a person meets the clinical criteria for a suspected case with a positive CRP; a person who meets the criteria for a suspected case with a negative PCR and a positive result in IgM by serology and an asymptomatic person with a positive PCR with negative or not practiced IgG.

When an asymptomatic person has a positive IgG serology regardless of the PCR result.

When it is a suspect case with a negative PCR and in which there is no high clinical suspicion or epidemiological link with a confirmed case.

Are there going to be cases or outbreaks in the school?

The appearance of cases or outbreaks in an educational centre does not have to imply a failure in prevention measures or be seen as a failure, it is very likely that it is a reflection of the level of transmission that exists in the municipality. The measures are aimed at reducing as much as possible, the probability of cases or outbreaks occurring and optimally, managing them.

In order to reduce the probability of this happening, it is important to take extreme measures of prevention and hygiene inside and outside of the educational centre (limitation of contacts and physical distance, hand washing, respiratory hygiene, use of a mask, cleaning and ventilation).

Do I have to take my temperature before going to school?

It is advisable to take a temperature to detect the presence of fever, in addition to being attentive to any other symptoms compatible with the infection. With a temperature higher than 37.3, the student will not go to school.

What to do if symptoms appear?

If a student or centre staff presents symptoms compatible with COVID-19, it is important that they do not go to the educational centre. The health centre should be contacted by telephone to assess whether the symptoms are compatible with COVID-19 and whether a PCR is necessary. Until indications are received from healthcare professionals, the person who has started symptoms should stay home and limit contact with other people as much as possible. If you have severe symptoms or shortness of breath, you should call 112.

What to do if the symptoms start when you are at school?

If a student begins with symptoms while in school, the person responsible for managing COVID-19 (the school nurse) will be in charge of their evaluation and possible isolation. The family will be contacted so that the student can be picked up as soon as possible. Until they can be picked up, a surgical mask will be placed on them and they will wait in a well ventilated room, where they can be calm and remain separated from the rest of the students.  An employed member of the centre will always accompany the student throughout. This student will be considered a suspected case and a PCR will be carried out at the health centre.

How should siblings and / or family members of a suspected case act?

The cohabiting siblings of a suspected case (a student with symptoms compatible with Covid-19 who has undergone a PCR and is awaiting the result), who are also students of the school, must stay at home until the result is known. If the result is negative, they may rejoin the educational centre.

In the case of confirming the infection (positive PCR), siblings and relatives who are close contacts must quarantine for 10 days.

The stable group of the siblings does not need to quarentine, unless their test results are positive, in which case the appropriate measures would be established in the coexistence groups of siblings or cohabiting relatives.

What if there is a child with symptoms in the class?

The presence of symptoms can be due to many diseases. Until the diagnosis is confirmed or ruled out, the rest of the classmates, as long as they do not present symptoms, should continue to attend the educational centre as normal.

Yes, the cohabitating siblings of the person who has started with symptoms and is waiting for the result of the PCR (suspected case) will stay at home, just as parents who work in an educational centre will stay at home too.

What if there is a confirmed case in the class?

If a case is confirmed, the epidemiology service, in coordination with the educational centre, will decide which people are considered close contact and contact them. The students and teachers who turn out to be a close contact must remain at home in quarantine (10 days). If you are not in close contact, you can continue to attend classes.

Who is a close contact?

In stable coexistence groups, the close contacts are all those who are part of the group, both the students and the teacher who is with them. In the case of classes that are not organized as a stable coexistence group, close contact is considered to be any person who has shared space with the confirmed case at a distance of less than 2 meters for more than 15 minutes, unless it can be ensured that the mask has been used properly.

Students between 6 and 11 years in the same class will be considered close contacts despite the use of the mask. Cohabitants of the case are also always considered close contacts.

The period to be considered for the evaluation of close contacts will be from 2 days before the onset of symptoms of the case. In asymptomatic cases confirmed by PCR, contacts will be sought from 2 days before the date of diagnosis.

What does a confirmed case of COVID-19 have to do?

You must remain in home isolation for 10 days (minimum) from the onset of symptoms and should not return to school until 72 hours after the last symptoms. These are after the 10 days of quarantine.

It is important to stay at home, preferably in a room separate from the rest of the house. Hygiene measures must be taken in common areas and with kitchen utensils. When the person diagnosed with COVID-19 comes into contact with a partner, both must wear a surgical mask and follow extreme hand hygiene. If you live together at home, you will be considered close contacts, so you must adhere to the quarantine, watching carefully for the appearance of symptoms.

What should close contacts do?

People who are close contacts must remain at home and quarantine for 10 days. A PCR will be performed within the first 24 hours. During the entire quarantine period, they should monitor the appearance of symptoms. If these appear, they should contact their health centre by phone.

What should close contacts who have a negative PCR do?

All close contacts must quarantine for 10 days, regardless of the PCR result. The virus has an incubation period of up to 10 days. If you’ve been in contact with a case recently and the test is negative, you could be incubating the virus and turn positive in the days after.

What should be done when you have been in contact with a close contact of a positive case?

If you have had contact with a person who has been identified as a close contact of a confirmed case, you should not quarantine if they are asymptomatic. Even if your child is a close contact, it does not mean that you are. Fathers, mothers, siblings or other close contacts are not also considered close contacts. They must maintain precautionary measures to avoid contagion while continuing with their usual activity.

In the event of symptoms, the health centre should be consulted.

What does a person with a positive PCR result do but has no symptoms? Can you go to class?

 No. You cannot attend class. If the diagnostic test is positive, you can have and transmit the infection even with few or no symptoms. In children, it is more common that they are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms, but the risk of transmitting it still exists, so they have to follow isolation guidelines.

What is a school outbreak?

An outbreak will be considered as any group of 3 or more cases, with active infection and in which a relationship has been established between them.

What do you do if there is an outbreak?

The action against an outbreak encompasses different measures according to the characteristics of the outbreak. The educational centre and the health authorities will coordinate to assess the situation. The measures can vary from extreme prevention and hygiene measures in the educational centre or extend to the closure of the affected classes, the closure of a cycle or, ultimately, the closure of the educational center.

What is considered isolation?

It refers to the period of time that the person diagnosed with Covid-19 must be isolated.

What is considered quarantine?

It is the period in which a close contact has to be isolated at home. All close contact will undergo a PCR in order to detect new positive cases early. If the result of this PCR is negative, the quarantine will continue until day 10.

How to do home isolation in mild cases of Covid-19?

You must stay at home, avoid leaving the room, keep it ventilated and with the door closed. You must use your own bathroom. However, if you share one, it should be disinfected before it is used by others. You must avoid distances of less than 2 metres from the cohabitants. You should have hand hygiene products in your room and constantly wash your hands. You must have a pedal trash can in the room.

How should the person responsible for giving care act?

The person responsible for the giving care will be considered a close contact and must perform a home quarantine for 10 days. The caregiver should not be at high risk and should self-monitor the symptoms. They should wear gloves for any contact with secretions and a mask whenever they share space. They should wash their hands if they come into contact with the infected person, even if they have worn gloves.

How can I prevent contagion?

You must follow the same recommendations as before. Cover coughing and sneezing with a tissue, throwing the tissue in the wastepaper once it is used. Wash with soap and water afterward and do not share personal utensils such as towels, glasses, plates and silverware. Put on a mask if you are in common spaces or someone enters the room, always keep your distance and wash your hands when you leave. Communicate by phone to avoid leaving the room.

How should I proceed with the cleaning and disinfection of the products?

Use a dishwasher or wash dishes and cutlery with hot water. Clothes should not be shaken, they should be put in an airtight bag and hands should always be washed after handling clothes. You should wash the clothes at 60º-90º and dry them well. Frequently touched surfaces, bathroom and toilet should be cleaned daily with disposable cloths and bleach (1 part 5% bleach to 50 parts water). Always wash your hands when finished. It is recommended to have one bag in the room, which is closed and inserted into a second bag, where the caregiver’s gloves and mask are inserted and then placed into a third bag that is thrown into the waste container.