The reason that primary and secondary schools were not closed despite the suggestions of epidemiologists

Despite the public statements of the members of the epidemiological team for their suggestions regarding the need to close all levels of education in Cyprus a week earlier, the final decision on the measures included only the closure of the Lyceums and the continuation of the courses with Distance learning.

In detail, the Minister of Health stated that:

"From next Monday, December 14, attendance at public and private Lyceums, Higher and Higher Education Institutions will be done with distance education. Kindergartens, Primary Schools and Gymnasiums continue to operate normally.At the same time, in addition to the suspension of sports and social activities for people under 18, which remains, the operation of the tuition centers is suspended ".

The whole issue was intensely occupied on Thursday night's meeting between the President of the Republic and the epidemiological team and as it turned out, the effects in many areas beyond the purely epidemiological picture would be too much from the closure of Primary and Secondary Schools.

In fact, as it was pointed out at the meeting, some of these effects would also affect the local health system, as many parents working in hospitals would have to stay home.

Indicatively, what Professor Petros Karagiannis said while speaking to OMEGA:

The issue at stake was who would take care of children under the age of twelve. Parents will be forced to take leave and leave their jobs. In fact, some of these parents work in the nursing sector, are doctors or work in nursing homes. That is, where we need to have full strength.

Source: Omega