Nicaragua resumes classes amid coronavirus pandemic

Managua, Apr 20 (efe-epa).- On Monday, classes in public schools – primary and secondary – as well as state universities, resumed in Nicaragua following long vacations amid the coronavirus outbreak that has claimed two lives in the country.

Students returned to the classrooms and a majority of them were seen without masks or gloves, according to EFE.

Government education adviser Salvador Vanegas told state media that in public schools, prevention measure protocols suggested by the Health Ministry had been activated – amid the COVID-19 outbreak – which includes hand washing.

Many students did not turn up for the classes on discretion of their parents, who, according to local media, preferred that the students missed class over being exposed to infection.

Students of public universities were also asked to resume classes Monday by the National Council of Universities.

Nicaraguan students, were on vacations since Apr. 3 due to Ester and majority of them were set to return Monday, however, students of different faculties from state universities warned that they would not return until the pandemic was contained.

The council has taken the students’ attitude as an act of rebellion, according to some members of the Nicaraguan University Alliance, which includes students who demand that the University Autonomy Act should be followed across the educational institutions with regard to President Daniel Ortega’s interest.

Human rights organizations as well as medical professionals and experts have expressed their concern over the manner in which the Ortega government is managing the health crisis as they believe it is not possible that COVID-19, would behave differently than it did across the world.

Nicaraguan authorities also stands out for maintaining its sports leagues active and promoting several activities amid the pandemic.

The Ortega government, which has so far confirmed 10 cases of COVID-19 including two deaths, denies any community spread and has not disclosed the number of tests carried out until now.

Nicaragua, unlike other Central American countries, has not decreed an emergency due to the pandemic, nor has it suspended the classes.

The country has also not restricted entry or movement of travelers within its territory and the authorities have said that they will not be imposing any kind of quarantine measures. EFE-EPA

lfp/sk/lds