Guidance for School Administration to Plan and Prepare for COVID-19

The guidance is intended for school administrators who oversee the daily operations of childcare programs to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among students and staff. The Heritage School North Campus best school in Dehradun aims to plan for the continuity of teaching and learning if there is community spread of COVID-19.

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by Coronavirus for which there is currently no vaccine available. The best way to keep people safe and healthy is to avoid being exposed to the virus that causes it and stopping transmission of the virus through everyday practices.

The most important thing that the schools can do now is plan and prepare. So, we are sharing guidelines for schools that have not yet identified COVID-19 in their community.

• Prepare Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs): Ensure that the EOPs include strategies to reduce the spread of infectious diseases such as seasonal influenza and emphasize common preventive actions for students and staff like staying home when sick, cleaning frequently touched surfaces, and washing hands often.

• Information-sharing Systems: Schools and communities should develop information-sharing systems for day-to-day reporting and disease surveillance efforts to detect and respond to an outbreak by partnering up with local health officials.

• Monitor Absenteeism: Review and monitor the absenteeism patterns at your school among both students and staff, and alert local health officials about a rapid increase in student and staff absenteeism. It is recommended to discourage the perfect attendance awards and incentives and determine what level of absenteeism will disrupt the continuity of teaching and learning.

• Establish Procedures and Protocols: Ensure that the students and staff who become sick at school or arrive at school sick are sent back home and keep sick students and staff separate from other students and staff members.

• Perform Routine Disinfecting and Cleaning: One can prevent and kill the harmful microorganisms by cleaning frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs and light switches with disinfectants and cleaners routinely. Also, provide disposable wipes to the students and staff to clean commonly used surfaces such as keyboards, desks, and remote controls.

It is advised to coordinate with local health officials to be updated with the latest information to share with the school community. The Heritage School North Campus is the top CBSE school in Dehradun that follows the guidance received from health officials.