Epidemiological situation discussed at Moldovan education ministry

Chisinau, 28 September /MOLDPRES/ - The reconfiguring of classrooms in the education institutions, under the Decision No 31 of the National Extraordinary Public Health Commission (CNESP), management of the time and the sanitary and epidemiological situation as to the infection with the COVID-19 virus in the general education institutions were the main subjects tackled at a meeting of the National Group of Coordinating the Safety in Education today.  

According to the Education, Culture and Research Ministry, presently, there are 247 pupils positive for Covid-19 and 8,672 ones were placed in self-isolation regime. A number of 265 teachers have been positively confirmed with the new-type coronavirus and 457 ones are in self-isolation. Fifty people among the non-didactic and auxiliary staff were infected and 95 are in self-isolation. Fifteen out of those 1,240 public and private education institutions carry out their activity in the online regime because of the quarantine, just as in the case of 291 classes.    

On 21-27 September, 14 pupils, 19 teachers and eight representatives of the non-didactic and auxiliary staff were tested positive for the new-type coronavirus in the vocational education. Also, 17 groups of pupils are placed in self-isolation.

In the higher education, 35 students tested positive for COVID-19 were registered and 61 people are in self-isolation. Twenty teachers were confirmed positive with the new-type coronavirus and 19 are in self-isolation. Seven people among the non-didactic staff were infected and 8 ones are in self-isolation.    

Referring to the reconfiguring of the classrooms in education institutions, competent minister Igor Sarov stressed that the new amendments give education institutions possibility to reorganize their school spaces, in order to allow a larger number of pupils to physically attend the school. ‘’These actions do not represent at all a relaxation of the measures of prevention of the infection with the new-type coronavirus in the education institutions, but rather make us more responsible,’’ the official said.   

The National Group of Coordinating the Safety in Education is made up of representatives of the Education, Culture and Research Ministry (MECC); Health, Labour and Social Protection Ministry; Bureau of the World Health Organization in Moldova; local specialty bodies in the education sector; directors of institutions, trade unions, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Republican Centre for Psycho-pedagogical Assistance, National Council of Pupils and representative of parents.     

Photo source: MECC