Conducting a COVID-19 Risk Assessment to Implement Evidence-based Decisions for Enabling Closure or Reopening of Schools

The Corona Virus Disease 2019 pandemic has compelled public health authorities to implement a wide range of public health and social measures to reduce the caseload and the spread of the novel viral infection. Owing to the implementation of various measures, some of the affected nations have demonstrated a decline in the incidence of the caseload, and it is the responsibility of the public health authorities to modify the implemented public health and social measures based on the epidemiological distribution and determinants. The decision should be based on the risk assessment which in itself is determined by the level of understanding about the disease transmission in children, local transmission pattern, and the readiness of the schools to reduce the possibility of emergence or appropriate management of an outbreak. In conclusion, as the epidemiological distribution of the disease is changing, it becomes vital for the public health authorities and school authorities to take specific steps on the closure or reopening of schools. However, regardless of any other factor, our interest should be to safeguard the well-being of staff and school children.