Effective measures and adherence to coronavirus (Covid-19) precautionary measures have helped prevent schools from reverting to online learning, a senior health official has said.
Dr Soha al-Bayat, head of Vaccination at the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), told Qatar TV's Hayatna programme on Monday that inspections at schools to ensure compliance with the precautionary and preventative measures will continue.
The ministry will conduct random checks to ensure that there is no spread of infection.
"The class will be closed if many cases are found in a particular class. The teaching staff will be asked to temporarily go for online teaching if cases are found among teachers,” she said. “However, no such step has taken due to the current adherence to precautionary measures.”
Speaking about the preparations the ministry made for the resumption of classes after the summer break and the start of the new academic year, Dr al-Bayat said that the MoPH assigned an e-mail address for schools.
Schools can request for any examinations and report cases through this e-mail ID.
"The preparations started at the end of the last academic year. We could take the correct decisions in co-operation with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education while following up on the cases,” she said.
The measures include the wearing of masks in schools, and requiring all students to undergo a rapid antigen test before coming to school on the first day after the summer vacation.
Meanwhile, Dr al-Bayat stressed that while Qatar has succeeded in controlling Covid-19, the pandemic has not ended.
“Qatar is not an isolated place ... we have seen that some countries have witnessed further waves and an increase in cases,” she said.
The official, however, noted that adherence to the Covid-19 measures has helped reduce cases and deaths.
The ministry will conduct random checks to ensure that there is no spread of infection.
"The class will be closed if many cases are found in a particular class. The teaching staff will be asked to temporarily go for online teaching if cases are found among teachers,” she said. “However, no such step has taken due to the current adherence to precautionary measures.”
Speaking about the preparations the ministry made for the resumption of classes after the summer break and the start of the new academic year, Dr al-Bayat said that the MoPH assigned an e-mail address for schools.
Schools can request for any examinations and report cases through this e-mail ID.
"The preparations started at the end of the last academic year. We could take the correct decisions in co-operation with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education while following up on the cases,” she said.
The measures include the wearing of masks in schools, and requiring all students to undergo a rapid antigen test before coming to school on the first day after the summer vacation.
Meanwhile, Dr al-Bayat stressed that while Qatar has succeeded in controlling Covid-19, the pandemic has not ended.
“Qatar is not an isolated place ... we have seen that some countries have witnessed further waves and an increase in cases,” she said.
The official, however, noted that adherence to the Covid-19 measures has helped reduce cases and deaths.
