An estimated four million students return to school in Italy today as classes reopen, in nine out of a total of twenty districts.
The gradual re-opening will see all educational institutions reopen by the 20th of this month with children living in Sicily and Calabria to finally return to school in a week.
With 93% of school staff vaccinated against coronavirus so far, the "green vaccination pass" is mandatory for educational, administrative and support staff of all Italian schools. For students, children under the age of six, and members of classes in which they have all been vaccinated, are excluded from the use of the mask.
"The absolute priority of the government was for the students to return to the classrooms. I hope that in many cases, in addition to the teachers, 100% of the children will have been vaccinated. Something that will allow us to relax the measures," said Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza.
The Italian Minister of Education, Patricio Bianchi, made an urgent appeal to students and stressed: "Children, get vaccinated. Do it for yourself, but also for your classmates, friends, family. "
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