ISS, September 1st 2021
A strategic document for the prevention and control of SARS-CoV-2 infections and a monitoring plan to control the circulation of the virus in schools have been drawn up to protect classroom teaching.
The strategic document, addressed to all schools, sets out prevention measures to be adopted as the school year begins such as, spacing of at least one meter between desks, use of surgical masks for all students above the age of six, even when seated, airing the classrooms frequently.
These are just some of the main recommendations addressed to schools that can be found in the Interim Strategic Guidance Report on the Prevention and Control of SARS-CoV-2 Infections in Schools (school year 2021-2022) drawn up by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità – ISS (Italian National Institute of Health), the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, INAIL, and the Bruno Kessler Foundation, in collaboration with the Extraordinary Commissioner for the COVID-19 Emergency.
These measures have been drawn up by experts to limit contagion also considering future epidemiological scenarios that could arise during the school year. Even in the White Zones, the recommendations on spacing and disinfection remain, while the use of surgical masks is mandatory where the distance of at least one meter between desks cannot be ensured.
Furthermore, extracurricular activities are allowed in the White Zones, while they are to be restricted in the Yellow, Orange or Red Regions.
The document also takes stock of the scientific evidence produced so far in Italy by health institutions which demonstrates that the transmission of the virus among young people is associated more with their social life rather than with their school activities. Scientific studies also show that school staff are not at a higher risk of developing COVID-19 infection than other professions.
In addition to the strategic document, a Plan to monitor the circulation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was also drawn up, in close collaboration with the Regions and with experts in the sector, intended for primary and middle schools, in order to monitor the spread of the virus across the schools even in asymptomatic subjects through a "network of sentinel schools".
The plan provides for salivary molecular tests to be carried out, on a voluntary basis, on pupils aged between 6 and 14 in primary and middle schools in Italy. The schools acting as "sentinel schools" will be decided by the regional health authorities in collaboration with the school offices.
The campaign will involve at least 55,000 students every 15 days and will be supported by the Commissioner’s Office in its implementation.
The choice of molecular tests on salivary samples was made because the accuracy of the results is higher and also because they have the advantage of being easier to collect.
In the initial stage of the campaign, the samples will be collected at school with the help of health personnel, appointed by the local health authorities or by the staff of the Commissioner’s Office.
Subsequently, the samples will be collected at home by the parents who will be given precise instructions to ensure that the samples are properly taken.
The families will then deliver the samples collected independently to collection points. In this way the samples can also be subjected to viral genomic sequencing, if any.
In the case of positive subjects / contacts (low or high risk), the indications set out by the Prevention Departments will be followed on the basis of the procedures defined by the respective Regions / Autonomous Provinces, and by the Ministry of Health.
