COVID-19: Saudi schools set to continue with distance-learning to contain virus

Cairo: Saudi Arabia may extend distance-learning for schooling if a vaccine against COVID-19 is not made available, Health Minister Tawfik Al Rbiah has said.

Last week, Saudi Education Minister Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sheikh said that the first seven weeks of the new school year, starting on August 30, will depend on distance-learning programmes as part of the kingdom’s efforts to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

In an interview with Al Arabiya TV, the health minister said a decision to allow classroom attendance after the seven weeks will be made after evaluating the health situation.

“After five and seven weeks, we will evaluate the situation. Accordingly, it will be decided either to extend distance-learning or allowing return to class attendance. This will happen based on the situation and availability as well as access to the vaccine,” Al Rabiah said.

Full safety

He said it is hard to predict when the vaccine will be available. “It is also hard to say how the situation will be like after seven weeks. In case the vaccine is unavailable, this period will likely be extended until the official announcement of the vaccine availability. This is possible,” he added.

The minister said that no vaccine will be accredited unless its full safety is proven.

Saudi Arabia so far has recorded a total of 305,186 coronavirus infections and related 3,580 deaths amid a recent drop in single-day cases.

He attributed the 3,000-plus infection mark in the kingdom to large-scale testing. “There are 21 drive-through testing centres, while the number of daily tests reach 70,000,” he said. “This big number of tests help in early detection of cases.”