Qatar's authorities have gone into overdrive to prevent the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) spread to the community. 

While the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) confirmed that there is no need to close schools over coronavirus fears, the authority has issued certain guidelines for schools to follow in order to protect students and staff from the risk of infection. 

How to protect students and staff in schools and nurseries from #coronavirus Disease 2019 (#COVID19) pic.twitter.com/VcElh9bOCP

— وزارة الصحة العامة (@MOPHQatar) March 8, 2020

The guidelines are as follows:

1. Maintain proper hand hygiene

The Ministry has advised students and staff to ensure they wash their hands with soap and running water for at least 20 to 40 seconds whenever they sneeze or cough. 

They are also asked not to touch their eyes, nose, and mouth with unclean hands.

2. Disinfect surfaces

Schools have been asked to use disinfectant to regularly clean bathrooms, floors, tables, chairs, toys, and other surfaces that the school community comes into contact with. These also include the handles of doors and windows.

3. Observe concerning symptoms among the school community

The Ministry has asked schools to keep an eye out for symptoms such as fever, cough or difficulty breathing among the students and staff.

It advised that those who have these symptoms should stay away from the educational institutes.

4. Avoid greeting that involves direct contact

According to the advisory, greeting with a hug or kiss is unadvisable under the current circumstances as the virus is transmitted mainly through direct contact.

5. Covering mouth or nose when sneezing or coughing

Schools must raise awareness among students on the importance of covering the mouth and nose with the upper sleeve or a disposable tissue when coughing or sneezing. They should also dispose off the tissue in a closed bin immediately after.

6. Proper ventilation in classrooms

MoPH has advised schools to make sure classroom windows are kept open during lessons or at least during break times. The Ministry said this should be practiced even during cold weather to ensure proper ventilation. 

7. Students with concerning symptoms

The Ministry stressed in case any student exhibits symptoms related to the infection, the child should be immediately separated from the classmates. The parents of the concerned students, as well as a healthcare provider, must be notified at the earliest possible. 

8. Plan students' entry/exit to classrooms

Schools are advised to plan the entry and exit of students to the classrooms as much as possible to reduce unnecessary crowding.

9. Avoid sharing personal items with others

Students and staff are also advised not to share personal items. 

On a related note, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) has affirmed that it is constantly communicating with health authorities in the country to ensure all precautionary measures are implemented in schools to protect students, teachers, and staff from being affected by COVID-19.

MoPH has assured the public that it continues to implement the highest level of monitoring, detection and management procedures to protect the people of Qatar from being affected by the virus. 

It reiterated that the risk of the coronavirus spreading in the country remains low.

Here's everything you need to know about the COVID-19 disease, click here. 

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Source: Gulf Times