Hanoi-Vietnam: Guidelines on COVID-19 prevention and control at the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year

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Hanoi-Vietnam: Guidelines on COVID-19 prevention and control at the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year (Illustrative Image)

Intersectoral Guidance 2686/HDLN: GDDT-YT, implementing the directives of the Government of Vietnam, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Hanoi CPV Committee, the Hanoi People's Committee, and the City's Steering Committee for COVID-19 prevention and control on the COVID-19 prevention and control in the new context. The Hanoi Department of Education and Training and the Hanoi Department of Health guide COVID-19 prevention and control in education and training l institutions across the city at the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year as follows:

**Before students return to school

- Schools should consolidate the Steering Committee for COVID-19 prevention and control and develop a plan for COVID-19 prevention and control for the 2020-2021 school year.

- Prepare sufficient tools and cleaning agents to thoroughly sanitize the schools and classrooms before students return and maintain daily sanitation.

- Ensure sanitary conditions for staff, teachers, employees, and students, including handwashing stations, clean water, hand sanitizers, soap, clean towels, or napkins. Place lidded trash bins in accessible locations, restrooms, and handwashing areas.

- Train all staff, teachers, and employees on the basic knowledge of preventing COVID-19.

- Require all individuals, including staff, teachers, employees, and students, to complete a health declaration form.

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**When students return to school

1. For schools

- Do not organize collective activities, mass gatherings, extracurricular activities, field trips, etc.; conduct flag-raising ceremonies in classrooms and limit activities involving multiple classes.

- Encourage each staff, teacher, and student to use personal water bottles and wear face masks when attending school, traveling, and in public places.

- Ensure food hygiene and safety in school kitchens. Do not organize mass dining; stagger mealtimes if the school offers boarding services.

- Security personnel should restrict entry to outsiders; visitors must follow preventive measures (temperature checks, wear masks, and sanitize hands before entering the school).

- Monitor the daily attendance of each class closely, and ascertain the reasons for any student absences, especially to identify any epidemiological factors before the student returns to class.

- …

2. For students

- Strictly comply with the school's COVID-19 prevention and control regulations. Wear masks when at school, in the classroom, on the way home, and in public places.

- Regularly wash hands with clean water and soap or use hand sanitizer before entering classrooms, before and after meals, after recess, after removing masks, after using the restroom, etc.

- Cover nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing with a tissue, cloth handkerchief, or elbow, and do not spit indiscriminately. Dispose of trash and masks (if any) properly in designated bins.

- Do not share personal items such as cups, water bottles, hand towels, etc.; use individual water bottles.

- If experiencing abnormal health symptoms (cough, fever, difficulty breathing), report immediately to the homeroom teacher, parents, and the school, and promptly visit a medical facility for examination, advice, and treatment.

3. For teachers and staff

- Homeroom teachers collaborate with parents to monitor students' temperatures and health conditions via phone, text messages, social media, etc.

- Daily, before each lesson, teachers should ask students about their health status, such as fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or fatigue. During teaching, teachers should frequently observe students' health for signs such as coughing, sneezing, fatigue, or other abnormal health conditions. Report any abnormalities immediately to school health officials and parents for handling.

- Teachers and staff must maintain personal hygiene (wear masks, sanitize hands, etc.) self-monitor their health and measure their temperature daily. Report immediately to the school and visit a medical facility if experiencing fever, cough, or difficulty breathing.

- Teachers and staff must not come to school if under quarantine or exhibiting symptoms of fever, cough, or difficulty breathing.

- Teachers and staff must regularly promote preventive measures and self-protection methods to students.

4. For parents

- Parents shall cooperate closely with the school in checking their child's health and measuring their temperature before they go to school.

- When visiting the school, parents should voluntarily adhere to and comply with the school's preventive measures and avoid gathering in large numbers at the school gate.

**On the First Day of School

- Staff, teachers, and students should not attend the Opening Ceremony if exhibiting symptoms of fever, cough, or difficulty breathing.

- Schools should implement plans to direct students from the start of the school period and not organize parades from outside the school gate.

- All staff, teachers, and students should have their temperature checked, wear masks, and maintain safe distancing during the ceremony. Frequent handwashing and sanitizing are encouraged.

- Schools should prepare documents on COVID-19 prevention and control to be shared by the homeroom teacher during the first lesson to convey the regulations and knowledge of COVID-19 prevention and control to all students and remind them to follow them regularly.

Note: The Department of Education and Training will urge and inspect compliance with directives from the sector, and compile reports from preschools, elementary schools, lower secondary schools, private kindergartens, and vocational and continuing education centers in the locality.

Details can be found at Intersectoral Guidance 2686/HDLN: GDDT-YT effective from August 25, 2020.

Le Hai

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