Tamil Nadu: Students to be tested for co-morbidities – Times of India

CHENNAI: High school students across the state will undergo medical screening in the next one week before schools reopen so district health authorities can have a list of students with comorbid conditions.
A team of doctors from the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) will screen government school students, while private school managements will have to organise health check-ups and submit details of students in the high-risk category in a data collection tool provided by the government.
In March, when cases of Covid-19 began to increase, the state government ordered closure of all educational institutions. Amid the lockdown, classes were being held online. Earlier this month, chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami announced that schools (Classes IX-XII), colleges, research institutes and other educational institutions would open from November 16 outside containment zones. While a consultative meeting with parents has been planned on Monday, the director of public health Dr T S Selvavinayam said the health department was gearing up for prevention and management of Covid-19 after the reopening. “Schools should be able to handle students as long as they follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs). With 50% attendance, masks and social distancing, we will be able to prevent transmission of the virus. Despite all this if there is an outbreak, the system is now mature to handle it,” he told TOI.
The directorate has instructed deputy directors of health services and Greater Chennai Corporation health officers to begin arrangements by sharing the SOPs and information brochures with school managements across the state. The guidelines issued by the directorate after a meeting with chief secretary K Shanmugam on Thursday, said all schools must clean campuses, provide hand wash facility and sanitisers in every class. Health inspectors, block health supervisors and non-medical supervisors will be assigned to each school including private institutions to ensure SOPs are being followed.
In school students will receive immuno-boosters.
Chennai: High school students across the state will undergo medical screening in the next one week before schools reopen so district health authorities can have a list of students with comorbid conditions.
A team of doctors from the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) will screen government school students, while private school managements will have to organise health check-ups and submit details of students in the high-risk category in a data collection tool provided by the government.
In March, when cases of Covid-19 began to increase, the state government ordered closure of all educational institutions. Amid the lockdown, classes were being held online. Earlier this month, chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami announced that schools (Classes IX-XII), colleges, research institutes and other educational institutions would open from November 16 outside containment zones. While a consultative meeting with parents has been planned on Monday, the director of public health Dr T S Selvavinayam said the health department was gearing up for prevention and management of Covid-19 after the reopening. “Schools should be able to handle students as long as they follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs). With 50% attendance, masks and social distancing, we will be able to prevent transmission of the virus. Despite all this if there is an outbreak, the system is now mature to handle it,” he told TOI.
The directorate has instructed deputy directors of health services and Greater Chennai Corporation health officers to begin arrangements by sharing the SOPs and information brochures with school managements across the state. The guidelines issued by the directorate after a meeting with chief secretary K Shanmugam on Thursday, said all schools must clean campuses, provide hand wash facility and sanitisers in every class. Health inspectors, block health supervisors and non-medical supervisors will be assigned to each school including private institutions to ensure SOPs are being followed.
In school students will receive immuno-boosters.