- Region
- Águilas
- Alhama de Murcia
- Jumilla
- Lorca
- Los Alcázares
- Mazarrón
- San Javier
-
ALL AREAS & TOWNS
- AREAS
- SOUTH WEST
- MAR MENOR
- MURCIA CITY & CENTRAL
- NORTH & NORTH WEST
- TOWNS
- Abanilla
- Abarán
- Aguilas
- Alamillo
- Alcantarilla
- Aledo
- Alhama de Murcia
- Archena
- Balsicas
- Blanca
- Bolnuevo
- Bullas
- Cañadas del Romero
- Cabo de Palos
- Calasparra
- Camping Bolnuevo
- Campo De Ricote
- Camposol
- Canada De La Lena
- Caravaca de la Cruz
- Cartagena
- Cehegin
- Ceuti
- Cieza
- Condado de Alhama
- Corvera
- Costa Cálida
- Cuevas De Almanzora
- Cuevas de Reyllo
- El Carmoli
- El Mojon
- El Molino (Puerto Lumbreras)
- El Pareton / Cantareros
- El Raso
- El Valle Golf Resort
- Fortuna
- Fuente Alamo
- Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort
- Hacienda Riquelme Golf Resort
- Isla Plana
- Islas Menores & Mar de Cristal
- Jumilla
- La Azohia
- La Charca
- La Manga Club
- La Manga del Mar Menor
- La Pinilla
- La Puebla
- La Torre
- La Torre Golf Resort
- La Unión
- Las Palas
- Las Ramblas
- Las Ramblas Golf
- Las Torres de Cotillas
- Leiva
- Librilla
- Lo Pagan
- Lo Santiago
- Lorca
- Lorquí
- Los Alcázares
- Los Balcones
- Los Belones
- Los Canovas
- Los Nietos
- Los Perez (Tallante)
- Los Urrutias
- Los Ventorrillos
- Mar De Cristal
- Mar Menor
- Mar Menor Golf Resort
- Mazarrón
- Mazarrón Country Club
- Molina de Segura
- Moratalla
- Mula
- Murcia City
- Murcia Property
- Pareton
- Peraleja Golf Resort
- Perin
- Pilar de la Horadada
- Pinar de Campoverde
- Pinoso
- Playa Honda
- Playa Honda / Playa Paraíso
- Pliego
- Portmán
- Pozo Estrecho
- Puerto de Mazarrón
- Puerto Lumbreras
- Puntas De Calnegre
- Region of Murcia
- Ricote
- Roda Golf Resort
- Roldan
- Roldan and Lo Ferro
- San Javier
- San Pedro del Pinatar
- Santiago de la Ribera
- Sierra Espuña
- Sucina
- Tallante
- Terrazas de la Torre Golf Resort
- Torre Pacheco
- Totana
- What's On Weekly Bulletin
- Yecla
- EDITIONS: Spanish News Today Alicante Today Andalucia Today
ARCHIVED - Measures agreed between regional and national government for return to school in Spain
Schools will only close if there is uncontrolled transmission or many cases
On Thursday representatives from the 17 autonomous regions of Spain and the Ministry of Education held a video-conference to discuss common measures ahead of the imminent return to school in Spain.
There has been considerable upset in the last few days about the impending return to school, with parents and teachers alike concerned about the implications of children once again gathering in groups at school and the potential for contagion that this presents, disquiet which has been expressed through petitions, political recrimination, protests and the threat of strikes.
Although by now there is little doubt that children can transmit the virus, studies are increasingly arriving at the conclusion that younger children are less likely to suffer severe cases and also appear to be less effective at transmitting it, but there is also no doubt that Covid thrives on human contact and every contact is a potential opportunity for the virus to be transmitted.
There are multiple theories about the best way to handle the “Vuelta al cole” but as this is a new situation for parents, teachers, children and educational bodies, the text agreed today seeks only to establish a working base and basic set of guidelines which can be amended as the autumn progresses and assessments can be made about the effectiveness of the measures.
Schools will undoubtedly find and share initiatives and responses made as new situations arise, but there is equally no doubt that children need to return to school in a presencial fashion for at least part of the time, for their emotional and physical well-being and if this implies a degree of risk, then that is preferable to a continued confinement which has already been shown to increase anxiety, and be detrimental to both their education and social interaction.
The Minister of Education, Isabel Celaá; the Minister of Health, Salvador Illa, and the Minister of Territorial Policy and Public Function, Carolina Darias, along with representatives from each of the communities, agreed on key points which would be applied in common throughout Spain, although accepting that individual schools and regional authorities would implement additional measures as appropriate at a local level.
Already there have been many announcements, Madrid for example purchasing computer equipment and cameras to facilitate the streaming of classes to children unable to attend school due to the need to quarantine and continue their education at home, just one of many measures.
These are the basic points agreed:
- A group will be set up to coordinate and monitor the evolution of the pandemic by the competent departments for Health and Education at a regional level.
- All educational centers will designate a person responsible for aspects related to COVID.
- In general, an interpersonal distance of at least 1.5 meters will be maintained in interactions between all those in an educational center.
- The use of a mask will be mandatory from 6 years of age regardless of the maintenance of interpersonal distance, without prejudice to the exemptions provided in the legal system.
- In early childhood education and in the first cycle of primary education, the organization of the students will be established, in general, in groups with stable coexistence, in which distance limitation criteria will not be applied, so-called bubble groups.
- Activities in the educational center that involve a mixture of students from different coexistence groups or classes, as well as those that require special proximity, will be avoided.
- Sporting events or celebrations that take place in educational centers will be held without public attendance.
- Frequent and meticulous hand hygiene will be carried out at least at the entrance and exit of the educational center, before and after playground time, when eating and always after going to the toilet, and in any case a minimum of five times a day .
- Students will receive health education to enable proper hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene and proper use of a mask.
- The facilities of the center will be ventilated frequently, at least for 10-15 minutes at the beginning and end of the day, during recess, and whenever possible between classes, keeping the windows open as long as possible.
- The dining rooms, or alternative spaces allocated for meals, will allow interpersonal distance of at least 1.5 meters, except in the case of belonging to the same stable coexistence group. Fixed positions will be assigned throughout the year for students and unity guaranteed in the case of bubble groups.
- In collective school transport, the use of a mask will be mandatory from 6 years of age, without prejudice to the exemptions provided in the legal system and recommended for girls and boys from 3 to 5 years old.
- Students showing symptoms cannot access the educational center.
- The body temperature of all students and staff will be taken prior to the start of the day. Each educational center will arrange the manner in which this will be done, avoiding crowding and ensuring the maintenance of interpersonal distance of at least 1.5 meters .
- Workers vulnerable to COVID-19 will maintain rigorous protection measures.
- Use of outdoor spaced will be prioritized as far as possible.
- Prioritization of communication with families by telephone, email, messages or ordinary mail, facilitating administrative procedures electronically.
- Citizens will be recommended to prioritize active transport (walking or cycling) on safe routes to school as a mobility option that best guarantees interpersonal distance, being also a healthier option and avoiding sharing closed spaces.
- Undertake actions to prevent stigma or discrimination in relation to COVID-19, taking special care of situations of greater emotional and social vulnerability that may be produced
Suspicious cases:
When a student or teacher shows symptoms, they will be isolated in a room (each center will have a person responsible for covid-19). The teaching activity will continue "taking extreme precautions" until the infection of the suspected case is confirmed or ruled out. In the case of a child being infected, the pupil should be collected from the educative centre, then remain isolated at home until the results of the diagnostic tests are available. If the case is confirmed, the pupil should not go to school and must remain in isolation. Close contacts (those who are part of the stable cohabitation group) will quarantine for 14 days and undergo a PCR test.
Shutting down bubble groups or educational centres
Upon confirmation of cases, specific classrooms or coexistence groups can be closed, but not the entire educational center.
This will only occur if there is an uncontrolled transmission of covid-19 or there are many cases and only after the approval of the regional health authority.
All schools and institutes must have a stock of personal protective equipment (PPE) for teachers to use in case a student has symptoms of coronavirus, according to the 'Guide to action before the appearance of Covid-19 cases in educational centers' which was also discussed in the regional conference.
Under the premise that the impact of the school closure has very serious consequences, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health insist that the face-to-face course - terminated abruptly last March as a result of the pandemic - must be resumed because it is a " priority need ", despite the fact that the meeting only took place today, a few days before the start of the course.
In general, the lesson activity will be face-to-face for all levels and stages of the educational system, prioritizing it for younger students, at least until the fourth year of ESO. The experience in other countries that have already opened their educational centers shows us that cases and some outbreaks are going to occur, as in other areas of the community, but that proper management of them minimizes their impact, " said the text published after the meeting.
Plan “Mecuida” protects the rights of workers who must care for Covid sufferers
The 'Mecuida' plan, which was approved at the beginning of the pandemic before the closure of schools and which will provisionally remain in force until September 22nd, allows workers to adapt or reduce their working hours to care for Covid sufferers at their own expense, permitting a reduction of 100% of the working day (in that case without pay), without being penalised or losing their jobs.
As well as caring for children, this applies to employed workers who have care duties with respect to a spouse or common-law partner, as well as with respect to relatives by consanguinity, up to the second degree.
The Minister of Labor and Social Economy, Yolanda Díaz, has indicated that the Government will extend the 'Mecuida' plan to allow parents of children with coronavirus to benefit from a more flexible working day.
Cartagena
El Carmoli
Islas Menores and Mar de Cristal
La Manga Club
La Manga del Mar Menor
La Puebla
La Torre Golf Resort
La Union
Los Alcazares
Los Belones
Los Nietos
Los Urrutias
Mar Menor Golf Resort
Pilar de la Horadada
Playa Honda / Playa Paraiso
Portman
Roldan and Lo Ferro
San Javier
San Pedro del Pinatar
Santa Rosalia Lake and Life resort
Terrazas de la Torre Golf Resort
Torre Pacheco
Aledo
Alhama de Murcia
Bolnuevo
Camposol
Condado de Alhama
Fuente Alamo
Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort
Lorca
Mazarron
Puerto de Mazarron
Puerto Lumbreras
Sierra Espuna
Totana
Abaran
Alcantarilla
Archena
Blanca
Corvera
El Valle Golf Resort
Hacienda Riquelme Golf Resort
Lorqui
Molina de Segura
Mosa Trajectum
Murcia City
Peraleja Golf Resort
Ricote
Sucina
Condado de Alhama
El Valle Golf Resort
Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort
Hacienda Riquelme Golf Resort
Islas Menores and Mar de Cristal
La Manga Club
La Torre Golf Resort
Mar Menor Golf Resort
Mazarron Country Club
Mosa Trajectum
Peraleja Golf Resort
Santa Rosalia Lake and Life resort
Terrazas de la Torre Golf Resort
La Zenia
Lomas de Cabo Roig
CAMPOSOL TODAY Whats OnCartagena SpainCoronavirusCorvera Airport MurciaMurcia Gota Fria 2019Murcia property news generic threadWeekly Bulletin