According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, the decision to close schools due to the epidemic affected 91 percent of the world’s student population. In the research, it was stated that the evidence showing that closing schools was effective in the fight against Covid-19 was very weak. According to experts, the effect of the closure of schools, high-spread viruses such as Covid-19 is small, and the clinical effect of this condition on students is low. Within the scope of the research, 16 recent epidemic investigations, including SARS, seen in 2003 in China, Hong Kong and Singapore, were examined. According to experts, closing schools was not effective in controlling outbreaks. According to the Guardian newspaper published in the UK, the head of the research delegation, Prof. UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health. “We know from previous studies that closing out schools can have a significant impact in outbreaks with high rates of transmission of viruses to children. But the opposite is the case with Covid-19,” said Russell Viner. Professor Viner said: “Data on the benefits of school closure in the Covid-19 outbreak are limited. But the information we have shows shows that this has a limited effect compared to other infection control measures such as the isolation of patients, and that closing schools is effective only if other social isolation measures are followed.” Benefit-Loss Comparison “The education of children is damaged and their mental health can be hit. The family budget is affected. People working in basic services may need to stay at home to take care of their children, and the most vulnerable children can be damaged,” said Viner. Professor Stating that children should be brought back to education and ensure a safe environment in their schools, Viner continued: “Countries where schools such as the UK are closed should now start working to find answers to when and how schools are opened. If restrictive social distance rules are to be applied for a long time, closing playgrounds, keeping students in classrooms continuously, increasing the distance between students, reducing the number of days and lessons. work should be carried out on starting and determining vacation times. ” Imperial College London epidemiologist Professor, who advised the government on the prevention of epidemic in England. “Closing schools alone can have a limited effect on stopping the spread of Covid-19. But this has a significant effect when combined with other social distance measures,” said Neil Ferguson. Professor sociologist from Notthingham Trent University. According to Robert Dingwall, UCL’s research shows that the closure of schools has a disproportionate impact on the social and economic value imposed on children and families. Professor Dingwall said: “This research also shows that the modeling used in the Covid-19 outbreak may be based on very weak scientific evidence. This study also indicates that schools can and should be opened in the UK immediately after the first wave has been overcome.”
