ATHENS — In accordance with the recommendations of the committee of pandemic experts, the education ministry has decided that spring semester exams in tertiary education can take place both remotely or in person, leaving the decision up to the relevant departments with the proviso that students and teaching staff first do self-tests, according to an announcement on Thursday.

At the same time, all the measures for preventing and protecting against the spread of the novel coronavirus will continue to apply, such as the mandatory use masks both indoors and outdoors, the thorough cleaning of surfaces, ventilation of spaces and others.

It was also announced that, from next Monday, a self-test will be required once a week for the attendance of students, teachers, administrative and other staff in schools around the country. The test must be carried out up to 24 hours before arrival at the school on Monday morning and its result reported on the platform https://self-testing.gov.gr/ according to the instructions. The members of the educational community must bring a negative test certificate and show this when arriving at school.

 "Dangerous and unacceptable"

"The education ministry's announcement that from Monday, 17 May, pupils will only be required to do one instead of two self tests a week to enter their school is unacceptable," stated the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) on Thursday regarding ministry's decision to reduce the number of free self tests for pupils and teachers.

"Almost 100 schools have closed nationwide in four days of operation. The government that effectively took no other measures against the spread of the virus and the safe reopening of schools, advertised that with two self tests per week as the sole 'weapon', the cases will be detected. It turns out that this weapon also is considered an expense and is being cut back!" said KKE.

"The government will be solely responsible for whatever follows in the coming period! It must take back this unacceptable and dangerous decision!" the party added.