Without Self assessment testbut with a mask, students must return to schools. Appropriate decisions will be made no later than the beginning of September. Committee of Experts from Ministry of Health carewhich will focus on the use of masks by students and teachers in the classroom.

The first messages sent by experts and health authorities are that mandatory regular self-tests to monitor the educational process – barring unforeseen circumstances – will not return this year. On the contrary, it is expected that the use of masks will remain, with many advocating the mandatory use of masks, at least in the interior of educational institutions.

Such as said K. Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Medical School of Athens, EKPA, Vice President of EODY Dimitris Paraskevis, “the mask is an effective measure, free of charge, and children are accustomed to using it.” In addition, according to the professor, this will also have an impact on the spread of the influenza virus, which, according to data from the southern hemisphere, will have a strong “presence” this year. If the mandatory use of masks is chosen, and not just a recommendation on the use of masks, then this could come into force from October.

According to the EODY COVID-19 Surveillance Report, the country’s epidemic is receding at a relatively fast pace.

Mr. Paraskevis notes that, according to experience, the spread of coronavirus in the school environment has usually been observed since October. In addition, the country is just now “coming out” of the wave of options BA.4 and BA.5, during which many people have been ill and, thus, still maintain a high level of immunity against COVID-19.

This is stated in the report on the epidemiological surveillance of COVID-19, published on Tuesday. EODI, the epidemic of the disease in the country is declining at a relatively rapid pace. Last week, 73,710 cases were registered (that is, an average of 10,530 daily), against 100,421 cases that were reported in the first week of August. 21% of cases were re-infections. In addition, about 18% of cases involved persons under 19 years of age. The epidemic seems to be receding in almost all regions of the country, with a few exceptions (Arta, Thassos, Ithaca, Ikaria, Lefkada, Tinos).

EODY announced 258 deaths of patients with COVID-19 for the last week. The number of deaths decreased by 27% compared with the first week of August. In total, since the beginning of the pandemic, 32,028 deaths of people infected with coronavirus have been recorded in our country. Last week, on average, there were 279 daily hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients and 296 discharges on recovery, further reducing the burden on the NHS. On Sunday, the eve of August 15, 118 patients were intubated – on Sunday, August 7, the number of intubated people was 120 people.