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Junio 2021

Junio 2021

Why have Spain’s schools not turned into coronavirus hotspots? 

“As soon as school returns, we’ll all be confined again within two weeks.” That was the general comment among neighbors, work colleagues and parents in Spain as the country gradually lifted its strict coronavirus restrictions. Many were scared, understandably so, that reopening schools would lead to new coronavirus outbreaks and restrictions. Fortunately, schools in Spain are instead resisting the spread of the disease. 

So how have schools been able to contain the virus? Why are they not at the center of a second wave of cases? Especially given that they are enclosed spaces, filled with children and teenagers who study, play and even eat together. 

“There are two reasons,” says the pediatrician and epidemiologist Quique Bassat. “The first is that children spread the virus less effectively than adults.” 

Julián Olalla, another doctor, however, says that this does not explain the situation in Spain’s schools. He believes the main reason schools have not turned into coronavirus hotspots is due to the strict protocol in education centers aimed at reducing contagions, such as class “bubbles,” separate entrances and exits, social distancing and screens. Olalla says that this feat has been achieved thanks to the efforts of Spain’s teaching community. “We have to recognize that educators, without being health workers, have been on the frontline.” 

Texto adaptado de www.english.elpais.com

Vocabulario: 

Hotspots: focos
Enclosed: cerrados
Aimed at: destinado a
Outbreaks: brotes
Feat: logro
Spread: propagación/propagar
On the frontline: en primera línea

¿Por qué las escuelas de España no se han convertido en focos de coronavirus?

"Tan pronto como vuelvan las clases, todos estaremos confinados de nuevo en dos semanas". Ese era el comentario general entre vecinos, compañeros de trabajo y padres en España a medida que el país levantaba gradualmente sus estrictas restricciones por el coronavirus. Muchos tenían miedo, comprensiblemente, de que la reapertura de las escuelas provocara nuevos brotes de coronavirus y restricciones. Afortunadamente, las escuelas en España están resistiendo la propagación de la enfermedad.

Entonces, ¿cómo han podido las escuelas contener el virus? ¿Por qué no están en el centro de una segunda ola de casos? Especialmente teniendo en cuenta que son espacios cerrados, llenos de niños y adolescentes que estudian, juegan e incluso comen juntos.

"Hay dos razones", dice el pediatra y epidemiólogo Quique Bassat. "La primera es que los niños propagan el virus con menos eficacia que los adultos".

Julián Olalla, otro médico, sin embargo, dice que esto no explica la situación en las escuelas de España. Él cree que la razón principal por la que las escuelas no se han convertido en focos de coronavirus se debe al estricto protocolo en los centros educativos destinado a reducir los contagios, como las "burbujas" de clase, las entradas y salidas separadas, el distanciamiento social y las mamparas. Olalla afirma que esta hazaña se ha logrado gracias a los esfuerzos de la comunidad educativa española. "Tenemos que reconocer que los educadores, sin ser trabajadores de la salud, han estado en primera línea".

Activity 1: True or False

Indica si las siguientes afirmaciones son verdaderas (T) o falsas (F) y escribe la frase del texto que justifica tu respuesta:

Pregunta 1

The general sentiment in Spain was that schools would contribute to the spread of the virus.

Pregunta 2

Spanish schools had been especially prepared to contain COVID-19 in the past

Pregunta 3

Some scientists believe adults are more contagious than children.

Pregunta 4

Strict school protocols may have been the cause of Spanish schools containing the virus.

Pregunta 5

According to Julián Olalla, teachers have been working as doctors and nurses

Activity 2: Choose the best answer according to the text

Pregunta

Many people in Spain…

Respuestas

Many people in Spain…

were afraid that open schools would help spread COVID-19.

were resisting the spread of the disease.

Retroalimentación

Pregunta

Schools…

Respuestas

are not responsible for a rise in the number of cases.

contained the virus at the centre of a second wave.

are especially given to enclosed spaces, filled with children.

Retroalimentación

Pregunta

Quique Bassat…

Respuestas

is a research epidemiologist.

agrees with Julián Olalla, another doctor.

only gives one of two reasons why schools have been able to contain the virus.

Retroalimentación

Pregunta

Strict school protocols…

Respuestas

have not turned into coronavirus hotspots.

do not explain the situation in Spain’s schools.

include class “bubbles,” separate entrances and exits, social distancing and screens.

Retroalimentación

Pregunta

Without teachers

Respuestas

Anti-COVID protocols would not work.

there would be health workers in schools.

there would be no frontline.

Retroalimentación

Creado con eXeLearning (Ventana nueva)