Preschools and schools that went back to in-person learning remain open. According to authorities, the situation is under control for the time being, and the virus hasn’t been spreading at schools. They point out the situation is being closely monitored and new measures will be taken if needed.
Latest statistics show that 60 pupils and 160 teachers across the country, who went back to in-person learning, are COVID-19 positive, Education Minister Mila Carovska told reporters on Friday, adding that as long as there are no conditions to shut down schools, this model will continue to be applied.
According to her, 0.05% of pupils and 0.6% of teachers have contracted the infection.
“It isn’t surpassing one percent, which means the virus hasn’t been spreading at the schools. As long as there are no conditions to shut down schools, we’ll keep applying this model,” Carovska said.
All countries in the world, the WHO and UNICEF as well, she stressed, recommend that schools should remain open.
“The country hasn’t registered many cases. It is vital for our system and our country, the instruction process not to be interrupted and we are making utmost efforts,” the Minister pointed out.
Minister of Labor and Social Policy Jagoda Shahpaska shares the same view. According to her, the situation in preschools is “under control” and “stable, based on the fact that there are 11,000 children in preschools, of whom some 650 are in isolation.”
“Since preschools reopened on Sept. 9, a total of 33 preschoolers and 109 staff members have tested positive for Covid-19. Right now, 650 preschoolers and 107 staff members are in quarantine after virus exposure,” Shahpaska said.
The reason behind such great numbers of people in quarantine was that after one teacher had tested positive, at least 15 children and one co-worker were ordered to isolate, she noted.
The Labor Minister added that the situation is being closely monitored, and decisions will be made according to developments in the epidemiological situation.
After being shut down for several months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, preschools in North Macedonia reopened on September 9. Schools reopened for in-person learning only for students up to the third grade. The rest of the students attend online classes at home. Both preschools and schools have special health protocols in place.
