Zoe-Dorothea Pana, a Lecturer at the European University Cyprus and member of the Scientific Advisory Committee expressed her conviction that pupils in Cyprus will successfully return to their schools, during the second stage of a plan to relax restrictive measures, starting on Thursday.

Addressing concerns voiced by parents, Pana said that they are reasonable, she said however that the time is ripe for pupils to return. Starting on Thursday, Elementary schools and Gymnasiums reopen after the lockdown, while pupils at the 3d grade of Lyceum will continue to attend classes. “Of course there is a degree of uncertainty, but if we act with coherence and if we comply, we will repeat what happened during the first stage,” which was practically a success, she added.

Pana addressed on Wednesday evening a teleconference on health protocols that will be applied at schools, along with Education Minister Prodromos Prodromou and representatives of the Confederation of secondary school parents, at the initiative of the Ministry of Education and the Pedagogical Institute.

Parents are very mature and receptive and had many questions, Pana said, adding that the adaptation of this new hygiene culture will be a continuous process and parents need to be on board.

Asked about a meeting on Wednesday morning between the President of Cyprus and the scientific advisory team on COVID-19, Pana said that they had a substantive discussion on issues concerning the reopening of airports and hotels. Based on the epidemiological situation, people are keen to enter the next stage to relax measures, and we are able to do that with safety, Pana said, adding that this will have multiple benefits.

She said finally that Cyprus handled the COVID-19 crisis in a mature and decent way, and the current situation is proof of that.