According to the situation picture group's assessment, classroom teaching will return next week

South Karelia's regional COVID-19 situational group stated at the 6.4.2021 meeting: The coronavirus epidemic is in the spreading phase in South Karelia. 

The situational picture group considers that, according to today's estimates, a return to face-to-face education for middle schools and secondary schools would be possible from April 12.4.2021, XNUMX. The need for local education is obvious based on the speeches of the municipalities, and according to current estimates, the infectious disease situation is starting to allow a return to local education. Current legislation enables distance learning only as long as it is necessary due to the regional corona situation.

- The situation of the corona epidemic in South Karelia is still on a knife's edge and everyone should remember protective measures so that the situation does not get worse. Children and young people are certainly important to all of us, and face-to-face teaching is important for their well-being, which is why the decision to return to face-to-face teaching has been made today. However, the situation can change quickly, so it will continue to be monitored on a weekly basis and, if the situation worsens, even daily, so that going to school is safe. If the situation worsens again, the classroom teaching will also have to be re-evaluated, says the chairman of the situation picture group Tuula Karhula.

It is important that the entity organizing educational services takes care of other health safety measures. Schools are obliged to ensure, among other things, the implementation of safety distances and hand hygiene.

- Local education will be returned to both secondary and middle schools, because the situation is now considered safe enough. At this point, the snapshot group assesses the benefits of returning to face-to-face teaching to be greater than the possible disadvantages. Other recommendations should now be followed especially carefully and contact outside of school should be kept to a minimum, reminds Karhula.

Schools must be able to take care of other measures to slow down the spread of the coronavirus, and the organizers of education should consider the various available opportunities to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
- It is the responsibility of schools to ensure that pupils and students in schools can study safely. Eksote thinks that going back to school is now starting to look possible, adds Karhula.

In the scenario group, various hybrid models were also discussed, with which secondary education could be organized even more safely in face-to-face teaching. The model for organizing teaching is at the second level up to the municipalities themselves, but especially for Lappeenranta high schools, due to the corona situation, the shift model is recommended. In the case of middle schools, the decision also requires the decision of the regional administrative agency or the institution responsible for the fight against infectious diseases in the municipality (in South Karelia, the board of Eksote) to partially or completely close the school facilities.

The regional situation picture group's recommendation for additional measures for year classes 1–6 was extended until April 30.4.2021, XNUMX.

 See current recommendations  from here.

More information for the media:

Tuula Karhula, chairman of the snapshot group, director of health and elderly services, Eksote, tel. 040 194 4936, wind.bearexote.fi (tuula[dot]karhula[at]eksote[dot]fi)

Kristiina Kapulainen, secretary of the situation picture group, safety and preparedness manager, Eksote, phone 040 651 1791, kristiina. kapulainenexote.fi (kristiina[dot]kapulainen[at]eksote[dot]fi)