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Monday, March 1, 2021

Checklist to support schools re-opening and preparation for COVID-19 resurgences or similar public health crises


3. Essential actions 

During school reopening phases, it is important to note that schools may need to close, partially close and reopen more than once, depending on the prevailing intensity of SARS-CoV-2 transmission within a distinctive administrative and epidemiological unit (e.g. district or subdistrict), as well as on the overall public health situation in the country, locality and/or community. The measures for school reopening are intended to support the implementation of existing measures to enable, monitor and sustain the return to school as equitable and ensuring high-quality education while safeguarding students’ health and well-being. 

Preparations for COVID-19 resurgences are intended to both support and prepare schools by designing plans and protocols for continuing education, and providing training in anticipation of potential resurgences that might result in school closure being decided by national and/or local authorities. In this context “resurgence” refers to the occurrence of an increase in SARS-CoV-2 transmission and/or prevalence of COVID-19-related illness or hospitalizations following a period of cessation or interruption. For instance, this might occur after relaxation of policies to restrict movements or social contacts, resulting in further waves of the pandemic. 

It should also be noted that actions can be taken at any stage. The actions in the checklist are not intended to suggest either uniform or all-or-nothing approaches. Users are urged constantly to adapt the checklist and specific actions – or combinations of actions – in accordance with changing local epidemiological, economic, social and cultural contexts.

3.1 Actions at national level (eight actions)  

National actions by the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Ministry of Health (MoH) should guide school-level interventions. The suggested actions should be implemented on the basis of feasibility and should be adapted to the specific national context and governance systems. 


3.2 Actions at subnational level (nine actions)

Actions implemented through multi-stakeholder coordination include support from municipalities and local education directorates to school-level efforts to implement and sustain protective measures. The suggested actions should be implemented on the basis of the feasibility and should be adapted to the contexts at subnational level.


3.3 Actions at school level (21 actions)

Actions should be implemented by school administrations through co-design and participatory approaches. The suggested actions should be implemented on the basis of feasibility and should be adapted to the specific contexts at the individual school level.  


Adapted from:https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240017467

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