Primary schools no longer have to send entire class home after Covid infection

If a child in primary education turns out to have the coronavirus, their whole class no longer has to go home from Monday. According to the cabinet, this measure has become too severe "in this phase of the pandemic".

The GGD will look with the parents of the infected child who they had close contact with. If there are multiple coronavirus cases in one group, the GGD can still advise that the whole class go home.

The PO-Raad said last week that it was happy with this relaxation. However the council, which represents primary schools in the Netherlands, emphasized that schools must receive proper guidance from the GGD in determining who should and should not go home after an infection in the classroom. "As a teacher, it is difficult to determine what exactly is too much contact," said a spokesperson. Over the past weeks, dozens of primary school classes across the country were sent home due to coronavirus infections.

The basic rules for the coronavirus continue to apply in primary schools: in case of cold-like symptoms, a pupil or teacher must be tested and those who test positive must quarantine at home.