School, mini quarantine for students? What the experts say

A ‘mini-quarantine’ of only 5 days for the neighboring school students of the companion infected with the coronavirus? The hypothesis being examined by the Technical Scientific Committee for the Covid emergency divides the experts, who at Adnkronos Salute explain the pros and cons of the measure under study to continue teaching in the presence. “The hypothesis of a school quarantine for the school neighbor of the positive and limited to 5 days is a good idea. In fact, I say that for the older children vaccinated any quarantine should be avoided. This could be the tool to return. to a complete normal life “, the opinion to Adnkronos Salute of Matteo Bassetti, director of the Clinic of Infectious Diseases of the San Martino Polyclinic in Genoa.
On the other hand, the virologist Fabrizio Pregliasco, a professor at the University of Milan, has a different opinion. Limiting the quarantine at school to the positive’s classmate only, and shortening its duration, “means increasing the level of risk. It can be done, it is an element to be evaluated, but not immediately”, he explains to Adnkronos Salute. “There is a desire that is that of reopening – notes the expert – an objective push to want to do more and better. I say let’s do it, but with progression”. Limiting the quarantine at school “has its own sense – recognizes Pregliasco – also to give value to the vaccinated, to highlight this advantage, but still the vaccinated cannot take advantage of this freedom – he warns – due to an excessive share of non-vaccinated people in general . We are almost there, but we wait. ” “We are still a little behind – explains the virologist – with respect to a data on the circulation of the virus. Now we are in a decreasing phase, fortunately, but – remember – there could be a backlash. Let’s wait a little longer. Let’s evaluate it, and it is then a political decision with respect to the residual risk that increases “.