AS students gradually return to schools in staggered batches, an infectious disease specialist reminds parents to stay calm if their children display some respiratory symptoms such as fever and cough, as these symptoms do not necessarily indicate novel coronavirus infection, Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported Sunday.

In addition to taking precautions against COVID-19, schools should also heed clusters of cases caused by other viral, bacterial and special pathogen infections, said Deng Qiwen, an infectious disease specialist and head of Huazhong University of Science and Technology Union Shenzhen Hospital.

Deng noted that temperatures vary greatly between spring and summer, making people more susceptible to developing respiratory symptoms as well as flu symptoms.

Parents should not panic if their children develop a fever or cough after returning to school, as these symptoms are not strictly specific to COVID-19, according to Deng.

“There are many respiratory pathogens, 90 percent of which are viral infections, followed by bacterial infections. At present, the cause of a disease can be basically uncovered through existing technical means,” Deng explained.

He added that Shenzhen has already developed rapid testing methods. A nucleic acid test takes about four to six hours to produce results. Other pathogens can also be diagnosed within 24 hours by means of gene sequencing, with an accuracy rate greater than 99 percent.

Deng emphasized that schools should disinfect the campus regularly, carry out temperature checks on students every day and educate students to wear masks, wash hands frequently and avoid gathering.

If a cluster of cases occurs, schools should set up an isolation room and take isolation measures in a timely manner. Meanwhile, an epidemiological investigation should be conducted and swab samples should be taken for analysis.

(Zhang Yu)