School bubbles an effective measure against COVID-19

Doha: The bubble system recommended by the government can act as an effective preventative measure to help reduce the potential spread of COVID-19 within schools, said a senior health official.

“Maintaining distinct groups or ‘bubbles’ that do not mix makes it faster and easier in the event of a positive case to identify who needs to self-isolate and keeps as many children as possible in school,” said Dr. Jameela Alajmi, Senior Consultant Infectious Diseases, Executive Director Infection Prevention and Control at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC). The Ministry of Education and Higher Education has already announced the bubble arrangement at schools as academic year 2021-22 starts tomorrow. “The bubble system will continuously be observed inside the classrooms and the entry and exit of students will be regulated to prevent overcrowding,” the Ministry had said in an earlier statement.  “The application of the bubble system to primary schools is usually more effective than the application of social distancing among students and this is due to a variety of reasons. For example, children struggle to separate at an early age; primary schools are also smaller in size making it easier to implement the bubble system. The bubbles should ideally contain up to 8 children and no more than 16 children in each group,” Dr. Alajmi told The Peninsula.