The Minister of Education, Rosendo Sernaannounced that the Council of Ministers approved this Thursday that the use of masks in basic education students is no longer mandatory but optional in the classrooms of all schools in Peru.
In communication with the Rotary of the Air-night edition of RPP News, reported that the decision was made unanimously and will come into force following the provision is officially published in the newspaper A Peruvian manSerna specified that the resolution will be published this Friday, August 26.
“The decision has been made that the use will be optional, children and parents who consider it necessary will continue to use it,” he said.
Minister Serna recalled that the optional use of face mask It was already applied in outdoor spaces, such as the patios of educational centers; and now this option is extended to classrooms during class hours.
“We are taking a big step there, in order to return to normality and allow that children have a more adequate situation in their classesof easy communication and greater socialization,” said the head of Minedu.
Serna indicated that the Council of Ministers also agreed to maintain the commitment to the campaigns so that minors complete the second and third doses of the vaccine once morest COVID-19age group where there is a large gap of vaccinated with a single dose.
Mandatory mask for teachers
Minister Serna reported that in the case of teachers, the ministerial cabinet approved that they continue using the masks compulsory during their pedagogical work, as they are a group more vulnerable to infection, despite having higher rates of vaccination.
“The parameter (of people) between 5 and 18 years old is where the disease has caused the least damage, where the level of contagion is not perceived,” he said.
Regarding schoolchildren, he argued that it has been shown “that all infections have been in the majority when they have been out of school. At school they are more disciplined, they maintain order,” he said.
More than 500 thousand children still do not receive the second dose
The Director of Immunizations of the Ministry of Health (Minsa), Maria Elena Martinezwarned last Wednesday that in Peru there is a gap of 500 thousand children who have not yet received second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
In an interview with ‘La Rotativa del Aire’ RPP News, The official explained that, to date, her sector has managed to immunize an average of 2.5 million children with the second dose; however, she remarked that she is pending the vaccination half a million minors.
“The country has managed to vaccinate regarding 3 million children with the first doses [de la vacuna contra la COVID-19], among children between 5 and 11 years old. While in the second dose we have regarding 2.5 million, there we have a gap of regarding 500,000 children who have not received the second dose, ”she warned.
Martínez explained that many parents mistakenly believe that it is only enough for the adults in the family nucleus to be duly vaccinated once morest the coronavirus and that children are less exposed to the clinical symptoms of the disease.
“One of the reasons why parents mention not wanting vaccinate to their children is because it is enough that the parents have been vaccinated and that the children would not be exposed to this disease”, he explained.
He indicated that, despite conducting training in schools, most tutors return without signing the consent of vaccination for the students. “We approach schools to coordinate with parents and teachers to provide them with the importance of vaccinationbut they have to give us the consents, which come [sin] signatures,” he said.
