With schools planning to reopen from August 30 in the UAE, parents across the country are having split thoughts between sending their children to schools or online learning amid prevailing fear of COVID-19 virus. Taking note of the safety and health of the students, Abu Dhabi and Dubai educational bodies have announced various guidelines for schools and parents to facilitate learning of the children in schools. At the same time, these educational authorities have stated that the schools are required to give options to all parents to choose between physical learning or online (remote) assessing all risks and precautions involved.

Speaking to media, Dr Deepti Chaturvedi, a specialist in paediatrics at Burjeel Hospital Abu Dhabi, stated that parents are worried about their children catching the infection if they go to schools or public spaces. However, she added that children's psychological health is also very important as they have been sitting at home for the past 6-8 months in the wake of pandemic restrictions.

"Kids have been sitting at the home for the last 6-8 months. They have been inside, not mixing with their peer group, with most learning being done online. We have seen so many cases where there have been side effects from the e-learning process because of the excessive screen time," she said.

Therefore, it is important to analyse whether it will be suitable for children to go to school or continue with remote learning. Here's an assessment of all parameters for UAE parents and children ahead of the reopening of school:

Extent of risk of virus infections among children:

According to media reports, children with COVID-19 have milder symptoms which are significantly limited to nose, throat and upper airway as compared to adults.

Is the risk of COVID-19 infection even among children?

Studies have shown variation in the spread of COVID-19 among different age groups of children. A research carried out by scientists at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston and the University of St Andrews in Scotland in July has shown that children below the age of 10 are less susceptible to the virus than teenagers and adults. On the other hand, children above the age of 10 show susceptibility similar to adults as per the research.

Why younger kids appear to be less susceptible?

Based on various research, scientists have come to the conclusion that COVID-19 has differentiated impact on the health of children. As of now, children are less exposed to virus amid pandemic restrictions, due to which they are significantly spared from the virus infection. Furthermore, it is highly likely that the children have a more robust initial immune response to the virus which helps them in preventing any infection. Moreover, it has been found that the receptor used by Coronavirus to enter the human cells is less mature in children which makes them better immune to the virus.

Do kids spread the virus?

This parameter potentially depends on whether the children are sick or not. Doctors in Chicago have asserted that children younger than the age of 5 with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 symptoms have higher concentrations of the virus in their upper airway than older children and adults, which could make them more infectious. On the other hand, a study published in Nature stated that the majority of infected kids in this age group don't have many symptoms which conclude that they are less likely to transmit the virus.

Virus situation in places where schools have reopened

There have been mixed responses from different places as schools reopened for physical learning in those areas. While schools reopening in Denmark and Norway in April, they avoided subsequent outbreaks with an increased practice of handwashing and safety protocols. Germany reopened their schools to small groups in early May at a time when there were moderately high numbers of cases. But this led to an increase in transmission among students but not the school staff. Israel fully reopened their schools on May 17 without any restrictions. This was followed by a major outbreak in a high school only after 10 days. The government was forced to impose lockdowns after a significant wave of infections was witnessed among the public.

How sick do children get from COVID-19?

It has been found by some scientists at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine that clinical symptoms manifest in 21% of infections among children between ages 10 to 19 years old. Furthermore, death due to COVID-19 is extremely rare in children, but the risk is high among children with a serious condition. An uncommon but serious blood disorder known as the paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome (PIMS) or multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) has been reportedly associated with COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2. It reportedly occurs at a rate of approximately two per 100,000 people who are younger than 21 years.

Protocols followed by UAE schools if there is a COVID-19 outbreak on the campus

The KHDA has issued strict guidelines and protocols to be followed by schools if a child or staff member show any signs of COVID-19 while at school premises. All schools have been asked to have an isolation room to keep the child or staff member showing symptoms until they are shifted to a hospital or medical centre for testing.

Speaking over the development, Paul Slater, vice president of Operations and Health, Safety and Environment at GEMS Education has said that if a positive case is detected in one of their schools, the school authorities will immediately implement their contact tracing process, which involves identifying any students or staff members who have been in close contact with the ‘positive case’.

According to KHDA, close contact can be defined as 'anyone who spent more than 15 minutes in the proximity of two meters with the positive case, from the day of symptoms onset or the day of the positive PCR test’.

"Any students or staff members who are subsequently identified within this group will be required to undergo 14 days’ self-quarantine. In addition, immediate and thorough cleaning and sanitising of the school will be conducted. All actions taken will also be clearly communicated to parents," Paul Slater added.

What does the research mean for whether parents should choose physical or online school this term?

With UAE parents in a position of being able to choose between physical learning or distance learning for their children for the upcoming academic term, it is their responsibility to make the best decision for their students. Dubai and Abu Dhabi schools have been mandated by their educational bodies to offer a 100% distance-learning programme, in addition to in-person schooling. Parents worrying for their kids over virus transmission can keep their kids at home at all term or can assess the possibilities of sending the children to schools

There are two major advantageous factors at work as of now. Firstly, extensive research into the nature of COVID-19 transmission is available now which will help in ensuring all evidence-backed precautionary measures including mandatory mask-wearing, social distancing and frequent sanitisation when schools reopen on August 30. This will definitely make the school environment safer and healthier.

Secondly, schools are much more efficient in providing home learning facilities to their students keeping in mind their experience amid the pandemic restrictions. These factors will help the parents in making the best decision as they involve lesser risk for increased safety of the students.

Now, parents are required to a balanced approach, but should not worry by the prospects of in-person schooling.

"For children who don’t have any long-term issues, who are not immune-compromised and who don’t have any liability with their immune system, parents should not be too scared about sending the kids back to school - so long as they can inculcate in their children the basics of hygiene, hand washing, and social-distancing habits," said Dr Deepti Chaturvedi.

It is also important for parents to consider the right balance for their children's mental health while making their decision.

"Kids need their peer group and an environment in which they can learn to think out of the box instead of only sitting in front of the box. As long as parents, schools and teachers can make the kids follow the rules we are in a safe learning system. Each parent has to decide what's right for each individual child," Dr Chaturvedi added.