Guidelines for Return to Presential Classes: Consensus Proposal in Accordance with the National and International Health Regulatory Agencies

Abstract

Introduction: The coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19) caused an unprecedented crisis in the area of education, causing the massive closure of classroom activities by educational institutions in more than 190 countries. By mid-May 2020, more than 1.2 billion students at all levels of education world- wide have stopped taking face-to-face classes. Therefore, the reopening of schools, colleges, and universities during the COVID-19 pandemic represents a special challenge worldwide in order to ensure the safety of students and staff. The guidelines need to outline the creation of a task force at each university, risk screening based on school, travel history, occupation, contacts, groups, and self-management. Objective: In this way, the present work had as objective to propose a guideline of return to the face-to-face classes based on the main regulatory criteria of government agencies in Brazil and the world. Methods: The present study followed a review model of the main national and international public health legislation as UNESCO, WHO and ANVISA. Development and Strategies: According to the process of economic reopening in Brazil and the world, the return to educational activities begins with the effective need to develop an action plan inherent to this resumption, gradually and safely. The resumption requires several strategic mea- sures adopted by the executive powers of all spheres of power (federal, state and municipal), allowing at that moment the safe, but gradual, resumption of economic activity, reducing the harmful and collateral effects in terms of social inequality. Conclusion: Multiple intervention strategies at the school and reductions in transmission in the community, in addition to the extent achieved so far, will be necessary to avoid the excessive undue risk associated with the reopening of the school.