The Vice Minister of Regular Education, Bartolomé Puma, reported that three cases of COVID-19 infection were reported —two in the department of Santa Cruz and one in La Paz— after a week of returning to face-to-face classes.
“It is about a teacher and a student in Santa Cruz; and of a student in La Paz”, detailed the authority, according to a press report.
Likewise, it announced that the educational units with positive cases suspended their face-to-face activities for five and seven days, respectively, in compliance with the biosafety protocols established in Ministerial Resolution 0001/2022 and Biministerial Resolution 0004/2021.
The Biosafety Protocol stipulated in article 6 of Ministerial Resolution 0001/2022 states: “The Biosafety Protocol for the Safe Return to Classes of the Regular Education Subsystem, in the modalities of educational attention: face-to-face and semi-face-to-face approved by the Biministerial Resolution No 0004/2021, will be assumed by the educational authorities, adapting the biosafety protocols according to their context or reality”.
Regarding the modalities of educational attention, the regulation indicates in its article 4: “I. In the absence of positive cases of COVID-19, or when the risk of contagion is minimal, work will be done in person according to the infrastructure, furniture, number of students and epidemiological report. II. When the COVID-19 contagion curve begins to rise and greater restrictions are issued by the competent health authority, the educational care modality will be blended. III. If the COVID-19 contagion curve is high, we will work with the distance education modality. the report refers.
Despite the confirmation of three infections, the deputy minister pointed out that face-to-face classes continue, since “they are a real fact” and recommended that 99% of educational units that returned to face-to-face classes respect biosecurity measures to avoid more infections.
Source: Bolivian Information Agency (ABI)