The Iraqi Ministry of Health and Environment is organizing regular campaigns to carry out COVID-19 tests in schools and to take nasal and throat swabs if necessary, in order to stem the spread of the pandemic.
Schools reopened on Nov. 29 after months of closure due to the pandemic. Students were allowed a gradual return to schools amid the ease of restrictions.
The Iraqi Health Ministry reported 1,338 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total nationwide infections to 575,972. The ministry also reported 24 new deaths and 2,028 more recovered cases, raising the death toll from the infectious virus to 12,603 and the total recoveries to 509,474.
Qatr al-Nada, who is in charge of health matters at schools of Karrada, said that these campaigns were launched in efforts to curb the spread of the virus given that students are transmitters of diseases and viruses. As for children, it is challenging to get them to abide by the preventative health procedures, she added.
Zein al-Abedin, a member of the scanning team, said that a rapid test is made first. If it shows positive then a nasal or throat swab is taken.
Further, lectures are given to raise awareness among students on the importance of wearing facemasks, handwashing, and maintaining physical distancing.
Teacher Noha Mounir, the health coordinator at Fatima bint Assad School, said that health centers dispatch teams to schools to follow up on the cases. These teams monitor the students to spot anyone showing symptoms, Noha added.
Currently, students are attending classes one day per week while the rest of the lectures are given online.
