Question NW1161 to the Minister of Basic Education
17 June 2020 - NW1161
Ismail, Ms H to ask the Minister of Basic Education
Whether her department has put any measures in place to ensure the safety of learners who (a) are asthmatic and (b) suffer from other underlying health conditions, including claustrophobia when wearing masks; if not, in each case, why not; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?
Reply:
(a) and (b) The Department has sought and received advice from the Department of Health through the Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19 (MAC) on the medical conditions in children that place children at risk of severe COVID-19. Specifically, the MAC advisory is that children with well controlled asthma are NOT at high risk. Through the completed Learner Health Questionnaire that is submitted to schools, schools will be able to identify learners with medical conditions that pose a risk, and together with the parents/caregivers, agree on a plan to protect the health and on-going education of the child.