The return to school after the Christmas holidays was relatively ‘normal’ with face-to-face teaching across all years. The spread of coronavirus in society has moved to schools after a few weeks of family and social contacts, although the incidence rates in education are still much lower than the general ones. However, throughout the education sector there is a fear that infections will continue to proliferate in the coming weeks, which could further complicate the processing of sick leave and staff substitutions, which are already problematic. The Ministry of Education reported yesterday that 300 teachers of public education are on leave for COVID, the vast majority for being positive, although there are also those for being close contact and not being vaccinated.
The percentage of public teachers affected by COVID is very low, only 1.8% of a group of about 16,000 professionals. The greatest impact is in Infant and Primary, with around 255 of the public teachers' absent across the Balearics. Supply teachers in Infant and Primary has been increased by 20, going from 60 to 80. At the beginning of the school year, this group of substitutions was composed of 30 teachers, being doubled a few days ago. Yesterday it was decided to increase it to 80. The 60 available a few days ago have already been incorporated. Further increases will be considered according to the needs of the education centres.
With regard to Secondary (institutes), the absences are being covered by the reorganisation of the centres themselves with the teachers on duty. The Ministry recognises that "the coming weeks may be complicated, but, taking into account the current impact of the pandemic in all areas, the number of teacher absences for now is acceptable. The infections in the centres do not reach 4% of the total, but there should be more vaccinations between 5 and 11 years, which on January 3 were only 16%. We hope that by the end of February almost all students will be vaccinated".
Joana Maria Mas, president of the Association of Directors of Infant and Primary School of Mallorca, highlighted "the delay of Infocovid in managing sick leave, which in turn is a problem for substitutions. In the students there is a trickle of positives and today (Monday) we have already had to call families to come and pick up their children because they had symptoms".
Joan Ramon Xamena, president of the Association of Secondary School Directors of Mallorca, indicated that "the whole society has relaxed, when we must act correctly at all times. There are complications in the dismissals and there is some fear and concern about what may happen in the coming weeks. I want to remember that at the beginning of the school year there were groups that did not want students to wear masks in the playground, but I also want to remember that schools have proven to be the safest place in society". Xamena added that there is a lack of filters and air purifiers in the centres.
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Listen to yourself! "Telling you the Vaccines don't work, and if they do it's just for ten weeks". Yes James, so they obviously DO work then don't they? And if only for a few, it is ONLY for over two months, then it is still worth taking until a booster is needed? Coincidentally, how many vaccines have you ever heard of which do not need boosters exactly? Very, very few. I know many more people in the UK as well as Spain who have suffered far more from Covid than of the Vaccines for it, not to mentioned those who work in the healthcare who understand the majority of those in hospital with Covid are unvaccinated. I don't expect you appreciate any of this, due to the fact it is far easier for people to simply pretend none of this is real and continue to keep your head stuck up your arse, and the amount of likes you receive seem to clarify exactly why this problem is so evident in the Balearics at the moment. Thankfully you people are in the minority, but as always, it is you who always makes things worse for majority.
... Also your claim that youngsters is totally untrue. There are far many more younger kids affected with Omricron than the other previous variants. Still, keep marking down the comments you don't want to hear and post sheep memes if it helps you cope with it better. Ignorance certainly is bliss.
@Juan me and my family also had covid, the delta variant over Christmas. We are vaccine free and had little to no symptoms. This narrative that has been built from politicians and mainstream media is nonsense that you will end up in hospital if your not vaccinated is ridiculous. Most healthy people will have mild symptoms regardless of a vaccination status. Don't blame the unvaccinated, blame the idiot politicians and media that have been lying to you all the way through this plandemic. Telling you the vaccines work when really they don't or if they do for about 10 weeks
Sail - Your ignorance and denial does nothing to help this problem. This variant is certainly not as severe as first thought, but is certainly more contagious. Myself and my whole family caught Covid over Xmas. Apart from feeling like a usual flu, it thankfully was nothing too worrying (also due to having all been vaccinated I imagine). It is however very much still out there, and the more people pretend it isn't, the longer it will continue to affect us all.
scaremongering on steroids, it never stops. it is January and in the middle of winter and flu season comes around. Lets get some scientific FACTS here: Globally, kids are not AFFECTED by this virus unless they are obese and have other health issues. the scam of a kid going into hospital with a broken leg then tests positive is a covid case. scam and a fraud. as the song goes ''leave the kids alone''. maybe teachers looking to get out of working, lazy bunch