Back to the medical classes-Part I- Strategy for return to the presential practices during COVID-19 pandemics in a Brazilian Medical School

IntroductionIn Brazil, practices of medical students have been interrupted due to COVID-19 to meet emergency demands. AimTo describe a strategy for a controlled return to the presential practices for medical students. MethodsWe developed a standardized protocol to be applied before and during the return of the practical classes in medical students of Universidade Federal Fluminense, in the follow months after COVID-19 pandemic beginning. The protocol was comprised in three parts: Remote training on COVID-19 prevention; Face-to-face training focused in COVID-19 prevention, handwashing and personal protective equipment use; Investigation of students COVID-19 status before starting practical activities and weekly monitoring for COVID-19 during seven weeks. The training was done by medical teachers in small groups for medical students of the last lective semester. ResultsThe classes were interrupted on March 12, 2020 and returned in August 10, 2020. Seventy-one students were trained and followed. The mean age was 26.6 years (26.7 {+/-}0.835) and 54% were female. Forty-nine (69%) students over 71 had a private health insurance, 60 (84.5%) shared a house/apartment with one or more person and 12(16.9%) reported a previous comorbidity. Eighteen (25.4%) over 71 reported previous symptoms of COVID-19, being positive in two students. During the follow-up, fourteen (19.7%) over 71 students were placed in quarantine due to signals/symptoms compatible with COVID-19 or contact with symptomatic case. Only two cases (2.8%) were confirmed and occurred in Brazilian epidemiological week 37. ConclusionThe protocol was successful in minimizing COVID-19 acquisition during practical classes of medical students.