Lebanon: Education to resume on May 28

BEIRUT, Lebanon

Lebanese education minister on Friday said classes in schools and universities will resume on May 28 after two months of suspension as part of the efforts to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

Tarek Majzoub, in press conference, said: "The school year will be completed as of 28 May till the end of June."

"The return to classes will include health and psychological measures in cooperation with the health ministry and the World Health Organization," Majzoub added.

Distance learning for students from grade 1 to 9 will continue, while other grades will resume classes.

Majzoub said high school exams will be held on Aug. 15 with health measures to be taken during the exams.

On Wednesday, the Interior Ministry announced it will ease part of the measures imposed on the places of worship and allow mosques and churches to open at 30% capacity during Friday prayers and Sunday masses.

Lebanon has been on lockdown since Feb. 21.

The country has recorded 796 cases of coronavirus and 26 deaths so far, according to official data.

After originating in China last December, COVID-19 has spread to at least 187 countries and regions. Europe and the US are currently the worst-hit regions.

The pandemic has killed over 270,000 worldwide, with total infections surpassing 3.86 million, while recoveries exceeded 1.29 million, according to figures compiled by the US’ Johns Hopkins University.

* Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara.