The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued recommendations for European countries to return to school safely during the coronavirus pandemic.
A written statement was issued after a meeting hosted by Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza and WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Henri Klugen, attended by senior officials from member states.
The statement said the pandemic affected 1.6 billion students in more than 190 countries and caused the worst damage to the education system in history, stressing the need for countries to discover how to start the school year.
It was stated that the member countries agreed on 4 articles in the context of the recommendation to reduce the risk factor in schools. Measures such as hand hygiene, social distance, mask use, and keeping children with the infection at home are said to be the foundation of safe education in the reality of COVID-19.
In addition, the importance of special policies for children with special needs and at risk, as well as for trainers in vulnerable situations against severe infection, was noted.