ATHENS – The pupils of four schools in Central Macedonia that had gone on school trips to Italy are going to return to Greece following the spread of coronavirus in the neighbouring country.

“The children are well and there is no problem. We are implementing, in cooperation with the ministries of Health and Education, all the precautionary measures and directives. The children will return in the following days to their homes,” stated Central Macedonia’s regional director for Education Alexandros Koptsis to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency on Monday.

Decision to suspend trips to Italy applies to all levels of education, Kerameus says

“Students, who are already in the process of returning to Greece, will return to their normal activities,” Education and Religion Minister Niki Kerameus said on Monday in an interview with the Athens-Macedonian News Agency’s radio station Praktoreio 104.9 FM, referring to students who are currently visiting Italy and are about to come back due to the spread of coronavirus in the neighbouring country.

At the same time, the minister announced that a list of students who are in Italy is being made. “There is a systematic record in consultation with all the rectors. There is no cause for concern,” she said, adding that the decision to suspend all school trips to Italy applies to all levels of education.

Concerning the measures already in place in the educational structures, she explained that “relevant circulars have been sent to all levels of education on preventive and hygiene measures, how to wash our hands, etc.”, while “funds have been earmarked by the Interior Ministry for preventive measures.”