Many parents of schoolchildren in Egypt are in a state of anxiety and fear, following the outbreak of severe viral signs similar to signs of influenza among all students in classes in all governorates of Egypt. Parents also expressed on the social networking site Facebook the extent of their fear for their children from this. The situation, specifically after the Ministry of Education confirmed that students are forced to attend schools on a daily basis, and that teachers record absences and assign grades for attendance and attendance for students this year.
Demands to cancel the November exams
In this regard, Rania Nour said: “We are asking the Ministry of Education to raise the absence and say there are no exams every month, so that the students go to the mid-year exams only, while Safaa Ahmed said: “The role is very sharp, and the students and teachers all take the role.”
Ola Jad added: “The children are all tired, and the schools record absences and are not satisfied with the sick leave.” Haneen Yahya said: “The students go to schools because of the absence and they are tired, and the infection is spreading more among the students and teachers.” Heba Hussein said: “The biggest problem is that all The classes have a large number of students.” Doaa Saeed said: “I appeal to the ministry to lift the absence because my son is tired and will go to school because he is afraid of being separated because of the absence.”
In a related context, Magdy Medhat, founder of the Window on Education Coalition, said: There must be cooperation between the Ministry of Health and Education. “The health of our children is more important than any attendance, and the education system must make a quick decision regarding the attendance of students in exchange, and it should be two days for each school stage.”
The educational community dialogue group, which is followed by the Minister of Education through the WhatsApp application, witnessed many comments from the founders of parental coalitions, as Mona Abu Ghali, the founder of the National Security Education Coalition, appealed to the need to cancel the November exams, especially in light of the spread of infection among school students in At the present time, the mid-year exam will be satisfied and the student will be tested in the curricula of November and December only.
In the same context, Amani Al-Sharif, founder of the Experimental Schools Union, said: “We hope that the November exam will be canceled and the mid-year exam will be satisfied, and that October lessons will not be included in the mid-year exam.” She explained: “The situation is very bad in the homes, and all the children and students have a cold.” And the heat is sharp, due to the huge numbers inside the schools, which we noticed with the return of students to schools due to the October exam
Ministry of Health: The virus infects children due to overcrowding
It is worth noting that Dr. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, has stated that the syncytial virus is a respiratory virus that increases its activity in the winter season, pointing out that the virus infects children due to overcrowding.
Abdel Ghaffar said, during a phone call to the “End of the Day” program on the “An-Nahar” satellite channel, that 98% of those infected with the syncytial virus show signs of the common cold, noting that it begins to disappear after five days.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Health confirmed that the transition period between the fall and winter seasons during which respiratory viruses increase, and those viruses target the respiratory system, including the influenza virus.
And Dr. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, a spokesman for the Ministry of Health and Population, said that in the fall and the beginning of winter; The prevalence of respiratory viruses is high, and these viruses are a large group of viruses that infect the respiratory system, including the influenza virus.
Hossam Abdel Ghaffar emphasized that the outbreak of these viruses at this time of the year is because citizens do not prefer to ventilate homes, and the air inside the rooms is not renewed, and the dryness in the air; Makes viruses more active.
Abdel Ghaffar noted that at this time of each year, the rates of infection with respiratory viruses increase, but the type of virus spread varies every year, explaining that the virus present this year; It is respiratory syncytial virus.
Abdel Ghaffar pointed out that this virus affects children from the age of one day and up to two years in most cases, but more than that. It affects children with very slight symptoms, explaining that the children’s immune system must be strengthened. By eating healthy, and drinking plenty of fluids.
Health explains preventive methods against respiratory viruses
The Health and Population spokesperson pointed out that the preventive methods against respiratory viruses include the following:
- Constant washing of hands.
- Do not kiss children on such days.
- Continuous disinfection of surfaces.
- You should go to the hospital in case of difficulty breathing or cyanosis of the skin.
- Most of the infections are among children under the age of two.
- Children should not go to school if they are injured. Because the virus is transmitted through the breath.
- Raising immunity to protect against respiratory viruses.
- Drink plenty of fluids and foods that boost immunity.
- Eat fruits that contain vitamin C, such as oranges and lemons.
- Pay attention to good nutrition and ventilation.
- Not directly exposed to cold.