Background: Coronavirus(COVID-19) is a disease that was originally detected in China. It is becoming a global health problem with a progressive increase in cases and deaths around world. Schools present a potential hazard for spread of infection especially droplet infections. Objective: Current study aimed to raise school staff and students awareness towards COVID-19 preventive measures by assessing knowledge before and after health education program implementation. Methods: An interventional study was conducted among preparatory, secondary school students and teachers in Tanta City during February and March 2020, included 1770 participants from four different schools. The data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire drawn by the researchers. Results: 81.2% of teachers significantly had a good total knowledge than the secondary and preparatory students (71.4% and 61.1% respectively) after health education intervention. Attitude of secondary school students positively affected than preparatory school students after health education intervention. Age(0.00*) and gender (0.004*) differences were significantly associated with level of knowledge using multiple linear regression. Conclusion: health education intervention was effective among participants; thus, it should be adopted by health personnel to transfer health-related information to the public. Recommendations: The findings of this study proved that educational health programs play a fundamental role in promoting the knowledge of students and staff members and directing positively their attitudes and practices towards prevention of infection.
Keywords: Attitude, COVID-19, Health, Knowledge, School.