Students who suffer from chronic diseases and those who have a first degree relative with a chronic disease living in the same house will be assessed by the physician and decided if the child could go to school, said Dr. Mohammed Al Amri, Acting Chairman of Pediatrics and Director of Paediatric Emergency Centres at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC).
As a precautionary measure to keep children safe from exposing to the risk of COVID-19, students who suffer from chronic diseases and who have a first degree relative with a chronic disease living in the same house are eligible to apply for an approved medical certificate and submit this to their school along with their national address certificate.
“Some children might have a chronic disease but their condition will be less severe. It is the same with elders living with the child, though they have a chronic condition, it may not be severe. Therefore, the attending physician will assess the patient and provide the medical certificate to be exempted from attending school in person,” Dr. Al Amri told The Peninsula.
“We cannot generalize chronic diseases, the condition will differ from one case to another. Even with a chronic disease, some children will be able to attend school. Some will be really chronic and others will be less severe, therefore assessment is very important,” he added.
Dr. Al Amri emphasised that schools have re-opened after considering all the risk factors and putting precautionary measures in place.
“Under the guidance of the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, all measures are being put in place by schools to ensure the safety of children and reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection,” he said.
Dr. Al Amri also cautioned that the risk of COVID-19 spreading has not reduced and it is very essential to follow all precautionary measures.
“The risk of COVID-19 remains same. Because schools have reopened and children are allowed to go to malls do not mean the risk of COVID-19 spreading has reduced,” he said.
“It is still extremely important for children to follow preventive measures to protect themselves from COVID-19. These include regular hand washing, not touching their eyes, nose, and mouth and adhering to physical distancing guidelines,” added Dr. Al Amri.
He also stressed that while children are at low risk of experiencing severe symptoms from the virus, they are just as likely as anyone else to pass the virus on to other family members.
“Children can act as carriers of COVID-19 and transmit the virus to parents or elderly relatives who may have chronic medical conditions and be more vulnerable to severe symptoms. Children may be asymptomatic, meaning they have the virus but display no symptoms. Because of this it is important that all children stay at home as much as possible, even if they appear healthy, and adhere to social and physical distancing recommendations,” said Dr. Al Amri.
“If children present any symptoms of COVID-19, they should be immediately taken to the healthcare facility for assessment,” he added.
Dr. Al Amri also said that for many children it can be difficult to fully understand how their lives have been changed due to COVID-19 and it is important that parents and caregivers take time to explain what is happening to children and answer any questions they may have.
