Social distancing is a requirement to keep a distance from others to limit the spread of the virus. It is required in those schools that remain open, although it is acknowledged that this is difficult, especially for younger age students. There is much talk of schools re-opening in a phased manner to stop too many individuals sharing the school environment at one time. Social distancing to some extends will also need to be adhered to when schools reopen.

The first piece of advice is to ensure that those that display any symptoms of coronavirus do not enter the school. This applies to children, parents, carers, or any visitors, such as suppliers. Consideration should be given as to how children reach at the school and any unnecessary travel on buses or public transport should be reduced.

For schools that remain open, class sizes must reflect the numbers of teaching staff available and are kept as small as possible. Lunchtimes, break times, and the movement of pupils around the school must be decreased, to reduce large groups of children gathering. Parents should also avoid gathering at the school gates.

• Protect yourself and others
• Wash your hands frequently, always with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• Remember to not touch your face, eyes, nose, and mouth
• Do not share cups, eating utensils, food, or drinks with others
• Be a leader in keeping yourself, your school, family, and community healthy
• Share what you learn about preventing disease with your family and friends, especially with younger children
• sneezing or coughing into your elbow and washing your hands
• Don’t stigmatize your peers or tease anyone about being sick
• Tell your teacher if you feel sick, and ask to stay home

Schools must sanitize the school grounds before the students reach the class and on weekends. The sanitization of each work area, every class, laboratory, each corner guarantee a sterile and hygienic space for all the students, teachers, and school staff, to protect their families from any possible danger of the transfer of the virus.

The first step to fighting the Coronavirus disease is to stop the transfer of the virus from one infected person to another, and it is possible if everyone who is out in public wears masks and gloves. Wearing masks and gloves will protect the students, staff, and teachers from contracting the disease as and when they communicate in classroom gatherings or on other occasions.

The school authorities will take steps to educate and counsel both parents and students on the benefits of consuming vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin C, Zinc, Vitamin B, Vitamin D, and other supplements, as suggested by the World Health Organisation, every morning to boost immunity, as the students step out of their safe zones.

To maintain social distancing, it is mandatory for students to sit at least 2-3 meter away from other students, and to provide such an environment, the schools can strategically work on sorting and creating a time-table that is inclusive of choices of students who would continue to take for online classes.

All the students, staff, teachers, among others, will go through thermal scanning at the entry and during several intervals of the day to diagnose anyone who is not doing well or may have COVID-19 symptoms.

Even though the schools offer a clean and sanitized environment for students, it is imperative that the administration installs alcohol-based hand sanitizers for the students, and staff, at various intervals of distance.