Education ministry: school Covid infections rate up but "under control"
The increase in Covid rates at schools is a reflection of the wider rise in cases across the country, the education ministry has said. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.
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The rate of Covid infections at schools across Georgia is up as shown by data from the past week, however the education ministry has said it has effects of the pandemic on educational institutions under control.
Pandemic monitoring and virus testing at primary schools over the week between April 10-16 showed an infection rate of 0.3 percent among teachers and staff, and 0.1 percent among students, the ministry has revealed.
The state agency said the numbers were a reflection of the wider increase of Covid cases in the country over the recent weeks.
The ministry's update also said 73 schools and 187 "individual classes" were practising distant learning due to confirmed virus cases as well as by requests from parents.
In addition, 133 teachers have been allowed to remotely teach based on their requests, representing an increase in the number.
Georgia reported 1,792 new cases of the virus on Tuesday, bringing the number of active infections to 11,532.
UNICEF Georgia welcomes the Georgian government’s plan to gradually open schools in the cities and the villages of Georgia. An official statement of the organisation reads that safe re-opening of schools and preschools must be prioritised during lifting the restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.
The Georgian Ministry of Education will allow the parents of school students to choose between in-person and online studies starting February 1.
All public and private schools will continue studies remotely until the end of 2nd semester in Tbilisi and other big cities due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In-person studies have resumed in the remaining big cities of Georgia - in Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Rustavi starting today.
Georgia's high school seniors have closed out the last day of classes with the ringing of the 'Last Bell' today. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili congratulated high school seniors on the completion of their secondary studies and wished them success 'in taking new steps in the path of your life'.
The Georgian Ministry of Education has reported that all public and private schools in Georgia are ready to resume in-person studies on January 17.