More than 25,000 Lanzarote kids headed back to school on 16th September after half a year without setting foot in a classroom. Their new school regime will feature regular hand-washing, mask use, distancing, bubble groups and many more new practices.
First published in Gazette Life, October 1st 2020.
Despite opposition from parents’ groups and teaching unions, the decision of the Canarian Education Minister Manuela Armas that it was “paramount” for children to return to class meant that 26 state education centres on the island opened their doors on the day after the public holiday for the Virgin of Los Dolores.
The return to school passed without incident apart from in Costa Teguise, where a teacher tested positive for Covid-19 before children returned. Seven of his colleagues were isolated pending test results.
In “hot-spot” Arrecife, thousands of children were swabbed for “pool” tests. This involves several samples being tested at the same time. If the pool results positive, individual tests are carried out.
