With 1,226 new infections, Germany is suffering from the worst daily increase in coronavirus cases since May
By: Dwaipayann Chakrabortyy
Tags: Covid 19, Coronavirus, Germany, Belgium, Italy

With 1,226 new infections, Germany is suffering from the worst daily increase in coronavirus cases since May dwaipayann chakrabortyy Aug 13, 2020·5 min read

GERMANY

In Germany, schools are run by the 16 federal states, which reopen classrooms at different times and with different rules.

In Schleswig-Holstein, where schools returned on Monday, students aged 11 and over are encouraged to wear masks in class, although this is not mandatory.

In contrast, in Berlin — which also went down this week — masks are mandatory in corridors and other common areas, but not in playgrounds or during class.

The eastern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania was the first state to reopen full-time after the break last week, but two schools have already had to close.

Around 800 students had to go home from the Goethe-Gymnasium in Ludwigslust after a teacher-tested positive for Covid-19.

Separately, 100 students at a primary school in Rostock were quarantined for two weeks after it was confirmed that a student was infected.

Germany’s most populous state, North Rhine-Westphalia, declined today, requiring entire schools to be tested if an outbreak is detected.

In Bavaria, with the highest number of deaths in Germany, schools will not go back until September 8th.

The state education ministers had agreed in July that the schools would be fully functional again in the fall, after having only partially offered lessons as the lockdown was relaxed.

However, critics have wondered whether this will be realistic as infection rates are rising again across Germany.

Schoolchildren with masks gather today on the first day of school in Duisburg in West Germany in a sports hall

FRANCE

French schools are expected to return across the country on September 1st, with no regional differences, with the exception of public holidays during the year.

Students over 11 years of age must wear a mask in rooms where one meter cannot be guaranteed, including in classrooms.

Some masks are distributed, but parents are generally expected to give their children face coverings.

Parents also have a responsibility to ensure that their children do not go to school when the temperature is high.

Younger students are generally not expected to wear masks. However, they will be made available to any children who develop symptoms and are waiting to be picked up.

Teachers and students must wash their hands upon arrival at school, before lunch, and before traveling home.

However, social distancing can be removed in classrooms, libraries, and canteens if it is “physically impossible” or if it would exclude some students.

In addition, the restrictions on different classes and year groups that mix with each other have been removed.

ROMANIA

Romanian Prime Minister Ludovic Orban today promised that schools will reopen in September under strict hygiene rules, despite the rise in virus cases.

“Our decision is clear, schools will start on September 14th,” Orban said during a speech in parliament.

However, local authorities might decide to keep some schools closed if there are more than three new infections per 1,000 residents in a given area.

In this scenario, students would then have to attend classes online from home — but Orban has admitted that hundreds of thousands of Romanian children do not have access to a computer.

The government has promised to buy 250,000 tablets for students who cannot afford one and who need it for online classes. However, this may not be enough to meet the demand.

The Prime Minister said that students, teachers, and other school staff must wear masks and that disinfectants should be readily available.

Romania closed schools, kindergartens, and universities in March and decided to keep them closed for the remainder of the school year.

NETHERLANDS

The Dutch schools are expected to return later this month. Some regions already start next Monday, others on August 23 or 30.

In the Netherlands, schools were only completely closed for a few weeks, and primary schools reopened on May 11th.

The secondary schools partially opened in June and are expected to resume full teaching programs later this month.

The Dutch Health Institute says that “children play a minor role in the spread of the novel coronavirus,” which means that the restrictions are less strict than those for adults.

The youngest children in kindergartens and kindergartens can even show up with runny noses as long as they don’t show signs of a fever.

Older children should stay away from school if they have cold symptoms and arrange a test to see if they have coronavirus.

Primary school children up to the age of 12 do not have to keep the usual 1.5 m away from each other and from adults, not even in kindergartens.

Secondary school students do not need to separate, but teachers are expected to keep a safe distance.

DENMARK

Denmark was the first country to reopen schools and sent the youngest children back to daycare on April 15th.

Health officials said there was no sign of recovery in these cases — and many schools are reopening for the fall semester this month.

Education officials say students will return to “more normal everyday life” without requiring the one-meter safety distance in the classroom.

However, the one-meter distance still applies when children mingle with people in other classes.

If a student tests positive, staff are expected to notify all parents and children affiliated with the school via email or on their website.

In this case, schools can be closed although they have to justify their actions to the Danish Agency for Education and on their website.

SWITZERLAND

Schools in Switzerland will reopen this month. Basel returns earlier this week and Zurich on August 17th.

According to the Basel authorities, 26,000 children returned to school on Monday. Students and teachers should keep their distance from each other.

According to official figures, hundreds of classrooms were reconfigured and unnecessary furniture removed during the holidays to make more space for children to sit.

In Zurich, there is no compulsory safety distance for students in the three youngest age groups, while a distance of 1.5 m is expected for older children.

Students must wear masks when walking around school buildings, but not during class or in the playground.

However, masks are given out by the schools in Zurich so that the students can wear them on their way to school by public transport.

Some regions of Switzerland have introduced rules for wearing masks, including Zurich, where students are expected to cover their faces outside of the classroom.

School trips are also allowed as long as staff prepares specific hygiene plans that meet government requirements.

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