Schools to reopen in Greece on September 14

Schools in Greece will reopen on September 14, a week later than originally scheduled, due to a surge in Covid-19 infections, Government spokesman Stelios Petsas announced on Tuesday.

He said that teachers, students and their parents, local and central government, all have to pull together to "win the war against this unprecedented global health and economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic."

Petsas also noted the crucial role of the cooperation between the Ministry of Interior and the country's municipalities, as they "do what is necessary for the smooth operation of the schools, ensuring the necessary disinfection and disposal of all consumables, such as masks and antiseptics."

He said the extension was necessary for families to return to big cities from summer vacations and spend some time at home before children go back to school. "We call on all parents to return home in coming days with their children. And to take care, for the good of the whole family, to stay safe by limiting contacts with the wider community until the start of classes."

It is recalled Theodorikakos signed the decision for the first instalment of the €6.2 million extraordinary subsidy related to the supply of fabric face masks for the pupils and the teachers of all the primary and secondary education institutes.

Education Minister Niki Kerameus also announced the implementation of 16 preventive measures for disease prevention:

• Mandatory use of face masks in all indoor, outdoor areas and school buses, with special emphasis in wearing those at kindergarten to the third grade. Free masks will be provided to all students and teachers at all public and private schools
• Updated instructions will be sent to schools and will also be published on the website of the Ministry of Education. Doctors will visit schools to further explain prevention measures and the appropriate use of face masks
• There will be antiseptics in all schools, cleaning of all areas will be meticulous, supervised by local government authorities
• All-day schools will operate normally during the school year 2020-21, with a secured budget of additional credits surpassing €100 million, in order to protect the most vulnerable groups of the population, such as grandparents
• Sampling checks will be carried out by EODY at schools, where necessary
• Daily breaks will take place at different times and in different areas at each school
• School canteens will operate on customised special instructions by the national committee of health experts
• School holidays and special occasions will be celebrated in-class at each school, while concerning the first day of the new school year and the traditional ceremony of sanctification and the blessing ritual by a priest, this is to be performed per class, outdoors and with all protection measures
• Student class tests will take place wearing the mandatory face mask and in observance of all other measures
• There will be no multi-day excursions and conferences in the coming school year 2020-21
• Visits to museums, public buildings, etc. will be carried out class-by-class only
• In sports, small teams are preferable for team games, but school championships will not take place this year
• School laboratories will be provided with cleaning equipment to be used before and after each session
• All computer and IT rooms at schools will be provided with cleaning equipment to be used before and after each session
• All musical instruments and music rooms at schools will be provided with cleaning equipment to be used before and after each session
• Following a recommendation for the exclusive use of personal water bottles, the A. C. Laskaridis Charitable Foundation is donating one such water bottle to every student up to sixth grade at all public and private schools, thus avoiding the exchange of bottles, glasses and mouth contact with the tap