First 'normal' school year starts: No more pandemic restrictions

EVERY school in Spain has now started the new term again as at today, and it will be the first academic year since 2019 with no Covid-related restrictions whatsoever, according to the ministries of health and education.

September start dates for schools vary by region, with some having already gone back on Friday, September 2 or Monday, September 5, and others not due to begin the new term until Monday, September 12.

But now that everyone is back in the classroom after the long summer holidays, it will be, for the youngest pupils, their first school year without masks, hand-washing, peer-group and playground 'bubbles', social distancing, online learning, and the threat of self-isolation always present.

The only difference between the new term in September 2019 and that of September 2022 is that those who take the school bus will have to wear a mask inside it, since it counts as 'public transport', where masks are still compulsory.

National health laws no longer require a person testing positive for Covid to quarantine, nor any of their contacts, since the vaccine roll-out – third doses have been made available to the entire population and a fourth is about to start for the over-80s – means contracting the virus will rarely require hospital treatment except in those with pre-existing respiratory disorders, usually as a precaution.

Masks in classrooms 'impede development'

Children at school were allowed to stop wearing masks long before the adult population, and paediatricians championed this move: In addition to Covid cases tending to be much milder in the very young, mask-wearing can be challenging for kids with autism, ADHD or sensory-overload conditions in general, has been proven to slow down verbal communication development in very small children, and is a major barrier for deaf pupils who rely on having to lip-read.

Social distancing in the canteen – last remaining restriction lifted

The last remaining Covid-related restriction, still in place at the end of the spring-summer term this year, was the requirement to socially distance in the canteen.

Here, pupils were expected to keep at least 1.2 metres (about four feet) apart from each other and from class groups they did not mix with for lessons.

'Bubbles', with specific groups of children sharing all class and playground activity and the same teachers, have been abolished, so everyone can now safely mix with other year-groups.

The complete lifting of all Covid safety rules has been made possible thanks to the current favourable epidemiological situation – Spain, at present, has the lowest number of serious cases of the virus since the pandemic started, according to the ministry of health.

Children's doctors and PTAs champion the move

“It's fantastic that the general norm now applies to schools, too, and that this year we can start the term completely normally,” says María Capellan, spokeswoman for the Spanish Confederation of Parent-Teacher Associations (CEAPA).

“Last year, it wasn't like that at all, despite its having been proven that classrooms were safe spaces.

“Now, it's time to place special emphasis on emotional education because, even though the term has apparently started in normal conditions, many pupils are still weighed down by emotional baggage as a result of the pandemic.

“The number of suicides and of consultations with private-sector psychologists – because the public health system cannot absorb so much demand – has risen. More focus needs to be given to educating in values, to putting aside political differences and greater emphasis on educating future generations.”

Paediatrician Dr Quique Bassat says the news of a restriction-free start to the school year is very welcome, and recalls that schools are still entitled to impose their own rules on masks, distancing and bubbles if they wish, but that the law does not stipulate any criteria beyond masks on school buses due to their qualification as 'public transport'.

“It wouldn't make sense to continue to apply these measures in a context of high viral transmission but very little actual illness; it wouldn't make sense to penalise children more than adults, where no prevention measures now apply,” he says.

Masks only in healthcare settings and on public transport

Until this spring, everyone in Spain aged six or over was required to wear a mask indoors and, until the end of last year, outdoors, too.

They were 'strongly recommended' for children aged three to five inclusive, but not considered advisable for the under-threes.

Although certain, very specific medical conditions, such as respiratory complaints, could lead to a doctor advising a patient against wearing a mask, these cases are extremely rare, and the person would need to show a GP's or consultant's letter everywhere they went upon request to prove this was the case.

Shops, offices and other premises open to the public were otherwise required to either order people to put their masks on, or to tell them to leave the building.

Anecdotal evidence shows there was very little, if any, resistance to the mask-wearing rules, and most people realised it was a small price to pay to keep themselves and, more crucially, the rest of the population safe.

Masks must still be worn by everyone aged six and over in pharmacies, nursing homes, hospitals, GP clinics and other healthcare settings, and on public transport – buses, trains, taxis and airlines – although they are not necessary at bus terminals, airports or stations themselves.

Maximum numbers of people per premises no longer apply, although some shops still do so as a precaution.

Workers exposed to high people traffic frequently have screens up to separate them, such as in supermarkets.