THE Education Ministry’s standard operating procedure (SOP) is adequate to ensure that pupils returning to school are in a safe environment, health experts said.

They said the ministry’s move to divide students into two groups to minimise crowding, social distancing in classes and improving ventilation in classrooms goes a long way in keeping students safe.

At the same time, they urged parents to periodically test their children and to avoid crowded areas, especially for children who have not been vaccinated.

Schools have started reopening in stages since October 31.

Dr Gan Chin Seng, a consultant paediatrician and an associate professor at Universiti Malaya, expressed confidence in the ministry’s SOP.

“Children who have not been vaccinated, especially those under 12, pose the threat of becoming a new cluster of infection,” Gan told The Malaysian Insight.

“As such, frequent testing is the best option.

“Most teachers have been vaccinated and they have to take weekly tests to be safe. The same must be done when they have symptoms.

“Similarly, students, if they are experiencing any symptoms, must also get tested to ensure that they do not have the virus before going to school.”

School children will also be safer once the government begins vaccinating those aged five to 12, following approval for the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for this age group by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), saying that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risk.

Meanwhile, infections biologist Lim Chee Han highlighted the role parents have, saying they must get tested regularly because as the adults, they are the ones who are out and about.

“Parents are the ones who have frequent contact with the outside world and so they must take the initiative to self-test at least once or twice a week.

“Otherwise, they might risk infecting their children who will then bring the virus to school and infect other students and teachers.”

Lim said as the country moves toward the endemic stage, it is the responsibility of society and, in the case of schools, parents and teachers to keep everyone safe.

“The source of infection in school often comes from teachers or parents. So, they are obliged to test when they have symptoms and report the findings. Parents should not send their children to school if they are symptomatic.”

Gan added that 70%-90% of children who test positive contract the virus from their family.

According to data from the Ministry of Health, from October 1 to 23, some 3,848 children under the age of 12 contracted Covid-19.

Children accounted for 18% of all new cases, more than the elderly, who only accounted for 12% of the cases during the same period.

“Most adults have been vaccinated, but they are still susceptible to the virus when they are in the workplace, despite following SOP and they in turn can bring the virus home to their families.”

Lim said since the virus spreads through airborne droplets, proper ventilation in schools is the key in mitigating the spread of infection.

“This is the schools’ responsibility. They should not just focus on whether students wear masks, but ensure that there is proper ventilation in place.”

Meanwhile, Dr Kate Chan, a paediatrician based in Johor Baru, said as most teachers have been inoculated, conditions for school reopening are much better now.

“We still cannot discount the risk of contracting the virus, especially in those aged five to 11 who have not been vaccinated.

“My suggestion to parents is to get their children vaccinated at the first opportunity,” she said, referring to the government’s plans to inoculate children aged five to 12 with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

Gan added that there are clear signs vaccination has been effective, as the number of infections and serious cases has been on the decline since the national immunisation programme began in February.

“Clinical trials have also shown that the vaccine is safe for children. It should be administered to minimise the infection among this group.”

To date, 82% of teenagers between the ages of 12 to 17 have received at least one dose of the vaccine while 69% have been fully inoculated. – November 6, 2021.