Uruguay begins gradual return to classes in rural schools

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On Monday, Uruguay began the gradual return to classes for children living in rural areas, as these regions have a lower incidence of Covid-19, after having been suspended on March 23rd due to a sharp increase of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in the country.

Some 5,000 children from 726 schools in the country’s inland will return to their activities despite the fact that Uruguay is currently experiencing its worst increase in the number of cases, deaths, and patients in intensive care since the health emergency was declared on March 13th, 2020.

The president of the National Association of Public Education (ANEP), Robert Silva, stressed on Twitter that this return to attendance in rural schools “is safe and responsible” and highlighted “the commitment” of those involved in public education to comply with health measures.

“Monitoring this process is crucial and that is what we are committed to. The importance we attach to public education must be pursued in these times of such difficulties,” he said in his message.

He added that 19 schools have yet to start their activities due to “licensing issues” or because they are under construction and detailed that there are 2 schools “ready” for children.

The gradual return to schools was announced on April 26th during a press conference by Public Education Minister Pablo Da Silveira; Uruguay’s president Luis Lacalle Pou, and Silva, after a Cabinet meeting to assess the pandemic situation in the country.

Da Silveira stressed at the time that “it is not guaranteed” that in May all students will return to classes, but that it will be a progressive process, and highlighted that one of the current advantages is that over 70% of teachers have been vaccinated.

At the conference, both the President and the Minister established the dates of May 3rd, 10th and 18th as milestones for the progressive return to classrooms, although higher education, technical education and part of secondary and primary education in the country will not be included in this calendar.

Despite the high Covid-19 figures in April, Lacalle Pou reiterated several times that his government will not implement further restrictive measures given the “sad reality” faced by the South American nation.

Uruguay added on Sunday 55 more deaths caused by SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and now totals 2,724 since the start of the health crisis, according to the daily report issued by the National Emergency System.

At the moment, all 19 departments are in the red zone according to the Harvard index, having accumulated more than 25 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the past 7 days.

Source: efe