Coronavirus #83 – "Żaczek" Kindergarten is temporarily closed
Robert Duchowski
Public Kindergarten No. 31 "Żaczek" is closed until further notice. The situation is related to the occurrence of coronavirus in one of the facility's employees
One of the teachers taking care of the group in Public Kindergarten No. 31 tested positive on coronavirus. What is important, the source of infection comes from the teachers family from the neighbouring province and not within the kindergarten. There were a total of 7 children in the group under the care of the infected person.
Due to this situation, the City made an immediate decision to temporarily close the kindergarten and carry out thorough disinfection and ozonation of rooms and equipment. In addition, in accordance with applicable procedures, close cooperation with sanitary services was undertaken. Currently, according to the decision of the services, 13 people have been quarantined at home. Other people from the risk group are under epidemiological surveillance.
The opening of kindergartens is one of the next stages of the government's thawing economy plan. Resumption of activity of the facilities was possible under the amendment to the regulation of the Minister of Education on the temporary limitation of the functioning of units of the education system in relation to the prevention, counteraction and eradication of COVID-19. According to government guidelines, only children whose parents have no other option to provide care for them and who had to return to work were to be admitted.
City meticulously prepared the opening of individual institutions. Due to the need to develop detailed security procedures, provide disinfectants and personal protective equipment, Szczecin's facilities were not opened, as recommended by the government (on the 6th of May), but a week and a half later – on the 18th of May 2020. Moreover, the city not only complied with the government’s guidelines, but also requested the sanitary services to issue appropriate opinions. Both the poviat and voivodship sanitary inspectors assured that in Szczecin and the region the situation is stable and there are no contraindications to open kindergartens and other similar facilities.
Currently, the city is waiting for guidelines and recommendations from sanitary services, which are to concern, among others further proceedings in relation to the situation.
