ATHENS – With a second lockdown aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19 due to be lifted on Jan. 7, 2021, schools in Greece will reopen the next day after two months, if there are signs the Coronavirus cases have come down enough.

Education Minister Niki Kerameus, on Mega TV, said that, “We are proceeding based on the suggestions of the experts. We will ask them to indicate their recommendation based on the epidemiological data, a week earlier,.”

That was in reference to a committee of doctors, scientists and infectious diseases experts advising Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakos on the safest path as they monitor cases, deaths and people on ventilators in hospital Intensive Care Units (ICUs.)

Kerameus acknowledged the psychological toll that disruptions to classes, with staggered attempts to teach remotely online, especially the difficulties for seniors in high school who will be taking university entrance exams later.

“Once the schools open, we will assess how far the curriculum has progressed and we will examine whether any adjustment is needed in every aspect of education,” she noted, suggesting alterations to the exams.