Healthy Soch
Padma Shri Awardee, Dr K K Aggarwal, President, HCFI and CMAAO, gave insights into the way forward for educational institutions and the precautions and protocols to be followed
India
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New Delhi, June 02, 2020:
The third day of the 1st Digital Covid-19 Perfect Health Mela (PHM) 2020 saw over 200 students from various schools and colleges participating in a plethora of competitions. From singing and dancing to COVID innovation and slogan writing, there were many platforms for students to showcase their talent. This is the first time ever that the Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI), a leading national non-profit organization committed to making India a healthier and disease-free nation, has organized the PHM online and the theme this year is Living with Corona 1.
A webinar on Living with Corona: fear free life was also held to educate the public on what precautions and protocols must be followed. This includes building immunity, eating outside, following measures like wearing masks, home quarantine, among other things. There was also an interaction with over 1000 schoolteachers and educators from Tamil Nadu on living with corona, reopening institutions, and measures to be taken.
Speaking about this, Padma Shri Awardee, Dr K K Aggarwal, President, HCFI and CMAAO, said, “We are going through a pandemic after the last Spanish flu which occurred over 100 years ago. There has been a relapse of many diseases in all these years. It is imperative to therefore understand that we must live with the Coronavirus and not with fear. There is no confirmation of children to children transmission of this virus yet. For instance, about 6.5 million people were tested in 14 days in China. For every 1 symptomatic case, there will be 30 asymptomatic cases. This is true in the case of schools and other institutions also. The cases are all around us, but corona is not very fatal. The fatality is practically zero in children less than 10. Schools and colleges must start sooner or later, and we must follow certain protocols to ensure there is no transmission.”
Some tips for schools and colleges as they plan to restart
- Do not interact with each other; it should be less than 10 mins with both wearing a mask; do not panic in case you come across a corona positive person or in case small children less than your height come and hug you.
- The teachers should not sit in front of students. Even during staff meetings, the principal can sit in the centre with teachers on either side maintaining adequate distance. Wear a mask.
- Avoid using AC. If you must, use a centralized or window AC. It must be on a high pedestal so that the air does not carry any virus. Nobody should sit between you and the AC in case you are in front of the device. If AC is unavoidable then keep an air purifier which can clear the air every hour.
- Only one person or the teacher should use the blackboard. Do not ask the children to repeat and encourage them to remain silent and listen. Even during lunch breaks, they can be encouraged to sit in their respective places and eat.
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