Respiratory viruses are common during the cold season and can affect populated areas where children and teachers conduct school/preschool classes, the Ministry of Health says. Prevention and control of respiratory infections is possible provided that a number of personal hygiene measures are observed or the premises where the courses are held, the Ministry of Health reports.

Hygiene rules:

• hand hygiene: frequent hand washing and/or disinfection (before entering the classroom, before eating, after using the toilet, after coughing/sneezing when necessary);

• respiratory hygiene: coughing, sneezing into a disposable or elbow tissue, throwing the tissue into the trash immediately after use, washing/disinfecting hands after coughing/sneezing;

• hygiene in classrooms: frequent ventilation of classrooms (if possible, keep the windows open or ventilate for at least 10 minutes after each hour), cleaning and disinfection of surfaces and objects in educational units before the start of classes;

• avoid sharing personal items.

Reducing the transmission of respiratory viruses:

• regularly informing parents that they should not send their child to school if symptoms of a respiratory virus or sore throat appear;

• teaching and non-teaching staff with respiratory symptoms will avoid entering the community;

• daily conducting by the teaching staff during the first hour of classes of a visual inspection of the students present in the class, in order to identify a possible sick student with signs of fever/infectious-infectious disease (congestive face, cough, etc.).

• If a student with signs of an infectious respiratory disease is detected, it is recommended to isolate him at home and inform his parents so that he can be referred to a doctor and prescribed specific treatment.

Specific preventive and information measures:

• Vaccination against seasonal flu of students and employees of educational institutions:

• conducting training events and informing students about the rules that must be followed for the prevention of respiratory diseases.

Organizational and logistical measures:

• placement in classrooms/prominent places of a stand with informational materials on ways to prevent respiratory diseases;

• provision of hand hygiene products (liquid soap, disinfectants and paper towels), as well as for cleaning and disinfecting classrooms.