Moldovan education ministry says 276 pupils infected with COVID-19, 6,091 in self-isolation

Chisinau, 19 October /MOLDPRES/ - A number of 276 pupils have been tested positive for COVID-19 and 6,091 ones were placed in self-isolation. Also, 372 teachers were confirmed positive with coronavirus and 351 ones are in self-isolation, according to the Education, Culture and Research Ministry (MECC), which presented updated data at a today’s meeting.   
Sixty nine people of the non-didactic and auxiliary staff were infected with the new virus and another 64 are in self-isolation. MECC’s data also shows that 11 out of those 1,240 public and private general education institutions of Moldova and 294 classes work online because of the pandemic.  
„Twenty four pupils positively tested with the Sars-Cov-2 virus, 12 teachers and seven representatives of the non-didactic and auxiliary personnel were registered in the vocational education on the period 12-16 October. Also, 17 groups of pupils are placed in self-isolation and two institutions carry out their work online. On the concerned period, there are 25 students tested positive with Covid-19 and 126 ones are in self-isolation in the higher education. Eighteen teachers were confirmed positive with the new-type coronavirus and 18 are in self-isolation. Nine persons were infected out of the non-didactic and auxiliary staff,’’ the Education Ministry said.     
According to the quoted source, 1,134 out of all 1,398 early education institutions resumed activity. Presently, nine institutions and 31 groups of children are in quarantine. There are ten children confirmed positive with the COVID-19 virus and another 757 are in self-isolation. Eighty three teachers were confirmed positive with the new-type coronavirus and 113 teachers are in self-isolation. Forty seven persons of the non-didactic and auxiliary personnel were infected with the virus and another 127 are in self-isolation.    
In the context, competent minister Igor Sarov warned the heads of the local specialty bodies in the education sector to train teachers and pupils as to the safety measures on the period of the autumn vacation. ‘’Please, treat this subject with maximum of seriousness, so that both the teachers and pupils have a safe vacation.’’ Sarov said.
The Education, Culture and Research Ministry also issued a circular letter, thereby coming up with recommendations on the concerned subject. Thus, MECC recommends the holding of a lesson for training pupils as to the prophylaxis and compulsory measures of protection against the infection with COVID-19 and other risk situations, which can appear on the vacation period.  
According to the structure of the school year 2020-2021, the autumn vacation starts on 24 October and will last till 1 November. After nine days of vacation, all pupils will go to classes on 2 November, expect for the education institutions where electoral bureaus for the 1 November presidential polls will be placed. The vacation will be extended by one day for these schools, and meanwhile the buildings’ disinfection will be carried out.    
Photo source: MECC