Covid and school, warning WHO: “No more mistakes, closing last resort”

Coronavirus and closure of schools, the warning of WHO Europe arrives, asking to keep them open with adequate prevention measures and, above all, to “not repeat the same mistakes” because closure must be “the last resort”. “Our message is clear: WHO (World Health Organization) Europe calls for schools to remain open this winter, with adequate prevention and response measures, as the region has been reporting a growing transmission of Covid-19 for 4 consecutive weeks, the only WHO region “to have this trend, and in fact the area accounts for 57% of the new cases registered globally in the world in the third week of October, explains the UN health agency. “Last week, with winter fast approaching, more than half of the 53 countries in the European Region reported a marked increase in Covid infection rates in all age groups – highlights WHO Europe in a statement. – While new cases increased by 18% in the region, 5 other WHO regions reported a decline. ” This situation “triggered responses from national and local authorities”. If “a total of 45 countries and territories” in the European area “recommend that schools remain open for face-to-face lessons with contagion prevention and control activities, 7 countries have opted for the total or partial closure of institutions, at the national or subnational, while 2 recommend distance learning “. WHO Europe therefore launches an appeal:” If and when restrictions are imposed to reduce or control the transmission of Sars-CoV-2, schools should be the last places to close the doors and the first to reopen, along with adequate infection prevention measures. In short: stopping children’s education should be a last resort “. The memory of the last two school years still burns, characterized almost everywhere by long periods with deserted classrooms and empty desks and Dad in fits and starts. “The widespread closure of schools last year, which disrupted the education of millions of children and adolescents, did more harm than good, especially to the mental and social well-being of children. We cannot repeat the same mistakes,” urges Hans. Kluge, WHO Europe regional director.