RIGA - Organization of in-person school and university attendance next school year will depend on the share of residents vaccinated against Covid-19 by that time, Education and Science Minister Ilga Suplinska (New Conservative Party) told reporters at a press conference on Monday.
Suplinska said that the Education and Science Ministry was discussing organization of in-person studies next school year with the Health Ministry and Justice Ministry.
At least 70 percent of the population will have to be vaccinated against Covid-19 by September 1, said Suplinska. She emphasized that in order to achieve this goal, it was especially important for risk groups to get immunized - senior citizens over 60 years of age and the residents with chronic diseases.
Taking into consideration that children until the age are not vaccinated for Covid-19, and that vaccination of children between the ages of 12 and 16 is also questionable, Suplinska said that "other options will have to be considered".
"And these other options are related to the measures that are already being taken - first, revising the ventilation systems and, second, this is about absolutely precise organization of studies, so different classes would meet as rarely as possible," Suplinska said.
As reported, Riga Stradins University has issued a Rector’s Decree regarding how the study process will be organized in the future under the conditions of the spread of the Covid-19 infection, allowing only vaccinated students to participate in the study process in person, starting from August 30.
In turn, the University of Latvia in the next academic year plans to partially resume on site studies, while large groups will still continue studying remotely, said University of Latvia rector Indrikis Muiznieks. He said that the university will keep to the regulations adopted last fall - ensuring at least four square meters of space per student, preventing mixing of student groups and requiring everyone to wear masks. Also, groups of more than 80 students would not be allowed in the auditoriums, which means that larger groups will continue remote studies.
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