During a press conference attended by Minister of National Education Dariusz Piontkowski and Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy Marlena Maląg, the head of the Ministry of National Education recalled the recommendations of the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate concerning the organisation of the new school year. He also presented the procedure to follow in the event of suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection and answered the questions most frequently raised by school principals and parents.

“Parents may send only a healthy child to school or preschool, meaning one who shows no noticeable symptoms of coughing, elevated fever, muscle pain, or loss of smell or taste. As the GIS often states in its information, the latter symptoms may indicate that a child is infected with coronavirus; in such a case, not only a doctor but also the state sanitary inspection must be notified,” said Minister Dariusz Piontkowski.

The head of the Ministry of National Education also recalled that pupils should follow basic hygiene rules, such as washing their hands and disinfecting them upon entering school.

New anti-epidemic guidelines for preschools

The education minister announced that the anti-epidemic guidelines for preschools had been amended. This was in response to requests from the directors of these institutions and parents, allowing a larger number of children to receive care. The floor area allocated to each child was reduced to 1.5 square metres.

Main changes in preschools

  • when 3 to 5 children are present, the room area must be at least 15 sq m
  • for more than 5 children, the area of the room intended for the children’s group stay increases by at least 2 sq m for each additional child
  • the area per child may not be less than 1.5 sq m
  • one permanent room for the children
  • the same designated group carers.

Additional care allowance until 20 September if an institution closes

Family Minister Marlena Maląg, in turn, announced that the additional care allowance would remain in force until 20 September. It will be available to parents of children under 8 if an educational institution is closed because of the coronavirus epidemic.

She added that the allowance would also be available in situations where sanitary and epidemiological restrictions prevent children from attending the institution normally.

The head of the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy recalled that, as before, the additional allowance would also be available to insured parents of children under 16 who have a disability certificate, and of children under 18 who have a certificate of severe or moderate disability. Parents of children with a certificate indicating the need for special education would also be eligible for the allowance.

Minister Maląg assured that the allowance could be extended depending on the country’s epidemiological situation.

Details are available on the MEN website.