The high schools of the country are reopened for live operation, with a compulsory self test for students and teachers.
As the Minister of Education said a short while ago, «self-testing is an easy and simple procedure, a procedure used in other countries for the operation of schools».
It is worth noting that self-tests are provided for both students and teachers. The coronavirus self-test will be conducted twice a week for each high school student and teacher and will be required for school attendance on Monday and Thursday.
Specifically with regard to Special Education and Special Education Schools, self-testing is mandatory for teachers and there is a strong recommendation to administer the test to students.
In detail, the steps for conducting the self-tests, as announced by Mrs Kerameos, are as follows:
1. Parents, guardians, students and teachers will receive the self-test free of charge, together with information material from the pharmacy, using their social security number. The first test can be collected by high school students and teachers from tomorrow in Athens-Thessaloniki and from Friday in the rest of the country. From next Monday they will also be able to collect the second test.
2. Students/teachers will do the self-tests at home. It is recommended that the test be done the same morning or the night before. So the first test can be done on Sunday evening or Monday morning.
3. Parents, students and teachers will declare the result of the self-test through the self-testing.gov.gr platform, which they will enter with their taxisnet codes, entering specific data, such as patronymic, maiden name, maiden name, social security number and the result of the self-test.
In case the self-test is negative:
α. For students, a school card will be issued through the self-testing.gov.gr platform. Students will carry the school card with them throughout the week and will show it to teachers during the first hour on Mondays and Thursdays.
β. For teachers, a negative result declaration will be issued through the self-testing.gov.gr platform.
c. In case there is no access to a printer, parents and teachers will be able to write a handwritten declaration containing the same information as the school card/ negative result declaration.
In case the self-test is positive:
α. A declaration of a positive result will be issued through the self-testing.gov.gr platform for the free repeat rapid test in a public facility.
The list of public structures is included in the self-testing.gov.gr platform
β. If the repeat test is positive, the EODY protocol will be followed. If the retest is negative, students/teachers will receive a certificate from the testing site and return to school.
As announced by the Minister of Education, explanatory material has already been sent to the pharmacies and given to the public as well as a video for informative information to all.
Why priority was given to high schools. Discussions with the Commission on kindergartens, primary and secondary schools
The Panhellenic Examinations and the longer duration of distance learning for high school students were the main factors that led the Ministry of Education to give priority to the opening of high schools, compared to other educational structures.
«We prioritized the opening of high schools for two main reasons: because they remain closed for a longer period of time and because, as you know, the Panhellenic exams are approaching,» said the Minister of Education, Niki Kerameos.
The minister reiterated that the ministry is «systematically discussing» with the Committee of Experts on the other education structures, without however mentioning a timetable for when they will continue their live operation.
Β. Kikilias: Thessaloniki is still concerned
With yesterday's record testing, 75,182 sampling and vaccinations, which yesterday approached 60,000, Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias began the briefing on the pandemic.
The minister spoke about the progress of vaccinations, stressing that we are optimistic that a large part of the population will soon be vaccinated by June.
Referring to the epidemiological data announced by the EODY, he said that Thessaloniki is still concerned, as the cases of Covid-19 are increasing.
