Polis Chrysochous municipality says schools to shut (update)

Polis Chrysochous Municipality, school board and parents’ association said late on Thursday that they have decided to close schools in the town for two weeks as a circuit breaker because of the surge in coronavirus.

They urged the education ministry to accept their decision and go ahead with distance learning, the Cyprus News Agency reported

“We urge all parents and students to abstain from school and out of school activities , adhering to social distancing and personal hygiene measures,” they said in an announcement.

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Earlier on Thursday, the parents’ association of secondary schools of Polis Chrysochous had called on the education ministry to close schools in the area for two weeks. Association head Marios Theodorou said 10 cases were detected in the two schools who have 250 close contacts.

“No schools are closing and the schools operate normally,” the inspector said earlier on Thursday.

Theodorou said the association has sent a letter to the education minister and the district education office of Paphos, and he has also informed the Mayor of Polis Chrysochous Giotis Papachristofis and the community leader of Neo Chorio Andreas Christodoulou Machimos.

Head of the community council of Pomos Vangelis Stylianou appealed to people to show responsibility and observe social measures in place to contain the virus such as social distancing and personal hygiene.

“The conditions which have been developing in the last days require that we all realise the urgency of the situation and behave with prudence and composure, protecting both our families and our fellow citizens,” he said.

District secondary school inspector Zoe Polydorou told the Cyprus News Agency earlier on Thursday that there was one confirmed case at Polis lower secondary (gymnasium) and three at the upper secondary (lyceum).  Those who should isolate at home have been informed. The rest of the students staying at home are doing so because they themselves decided to and because they are afraid to go to school, she said.

From Friday, online lessons will be available for all students who stay at home.

 

 

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