H1N1

I am not sure what things are like in America this fall, but out here in Taiwan, schools and the government are on full alert to prevent the spread of H1N1 (formerly known as Swine Flu). In order to ward off any widespread epidemic, there are several lists of rules and protocols that need to be followed to help ensure those that have H1N1 do not spread it to other people. I would like to outline some of those in this post, to give my fellow readers a quick glimpse into the situation over here.

Here at Concordia Middle School students have their temperature taken every day in their homerooms. If their temperature is 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 F), students are required to wear a protectiv mask. This mask is simailar to what dentists wear to cover their mouths and noses when working with a patient. This is mask is to prevent spreading of germs in case the person has H1N1, but the symptoms are not obvious yet. If the temperature is 38 degrees (100.4) or higher, the student is required to go home and needs to go to a doctor to be tested for H1N1.

I also encounter these temperature protocols at church and at the gym. Every Saturday afternoon before Youth Group, all of the teachers and youth have their temperatures taken and recorded. Also, when I go to the gym to exercise, I need to have my temperature taken when I show my membership card at the front desk.

At CMS, if your temperature is below 37 degrees Celsius, you are ok. If not, there is a set of rules that are strictly followed. If a student has H1N1 they are required to be quarantined in their house for 5-7 days. If 2 students in a homeroom come down with H1N1 at during the same time, the entire class is sent home for 5 days.

The classes they miss during the quarantine period at home are made up on Saturday afternoons and possibly Sundays. While these students are home, teachers can post homework and assignments on the school website, that the students are required to check. I have 2 8th grade classes and one 10th grade class sent home because
of H1N1.

In addition to sending students home, the school has rules in place regarding airflow. Classrooms are required to keep the front door and front windows open, to keep the airflow moving. This rule is required even with the air conditioning on. It is still hot here in Taiwan, with temperatures reaching the 80s and 90s, so classrooms have been running the AC all school year. To me, it seems like a waste of electricity to run the AC and have the windows and doors open. However, this is all a result of the post-SARS Taiwan environment.

5-6 years ago, there was an outbreak of SARS throughout Asia, including here in Taiwan. I am not exactly clear on the details, but the disease spread extensively and people did not want to be in confined areas where SARS might be sitting in the air. As a result, windows and doors were left open to air out the room and maintain airflow.

This fear extended beyond the SARS outbreak, and I could see glimpses of this thought even before the current H1N1 situation. In my English office there is a Taiwanese teacher who always opens a window or door to keep the air moving, even when the air conditioning is on. It has been this way all 4 years that I have been in my current office, and is a reflection of how SARS influenced the behaviors of people here in Taiwan.

In closing, I believe these rules were in place for the fist couple months of school, and will probably be reviwed soon. I personally find it frustrating to have an entire class of students missing time, and falling behind the other classes, but also recognize the schools concern in containing the disease.

The closest I have come in contact with the illness was when one of my roommates came down with H1N1, and was quarantined to the house for 1 week. Thankfully, I did not contract the illness, and have not had to miss any school. He recovered and has been back teaching for a couple of weeks. Praise the Lord!