TIRANA, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Schools in Albania will reopen in mid-September while respecting health protocols against the spread of COVID-19 disease, Minister of Education, Sports and Youth Besa Shahini said on Tuesday.
Shahini addressed the public via a Facebook communication video together with Minister of Health and Social Protection Ogerta Manastirliu, to reveal the latest decision of the Albanian authorities on the restart of regular classes in all Albanian schools after an interruption due to COVID-19 outbreak.
In her address, the minister presented the results of a survey conducted by the Education Ministry on parents, teachers and the educational community.
Shahini said that 87 percent of the participants in the survey think that pupils and students should return to school and only 13 percent were in favor of attending online classes.
She explained that authorities are discussing different scenarios, depending on the characteristics of the schools.
The minister urged municipalities across the country to start preparations for the new school year, referring to the cleaning of school premises and equipping schools with the necessary hygienic-sanitary tools.
In her remarks, Manastirliu said that every decision for the reopening of schools is being coordinated with maximum responsibility by the institutions responsible for guaranteeing social distancing measures and by assessing the epidemiological situation in the country.
Manastirliu cited the assessments carried out by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, saying it concludes that the transmission of COVID-19 in schools is rare if appropriate measures of physical distance and hygiene are taken.
On Tuesday, health authorities reported 155 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 7,654, with 3,871 recoveries and 232 fatalities. Enditem
