Lebanon’s schools and educational institutions will reopen from May 28, following the Eid al-Fitr holiday, as part of the government’s plan to ease the restrictions introduced back in March to confront the coronavirus pandemic.
The announcement came despite a rise in the number of COVID-19 cases following the arrival of more Lebanese expatriates from abroad.
On Friday, the Health Ministry announced 12 new cases, six among returnees and six locally transmitted, taking the number of infections in the country to 796.
While raising concerns over a possible second wave, Health Minister Hamad Hassan said that the result of the “general mobilization” that was announced by the government in March has been very good.
However, he refered to the high level of infections among returning Lebanese, calling on them to follow the recommendations of the Health Ministry.
Education Minister Tarek Majzoub said on Friday that the academic year would resume across the country from May 28 until the end of July, after which students would take a two-month summer vacation before returning to school in October.
“The start of the new academic year will include health and psychological measures, in cooperation with the Health Ministry and the World Health Organization,” he said.
Majzoub cancelled Brevet exams, saying students will be given certificates provided that they complete the academic year in July.
Meanwhile, the second stage of evacuating expatriates and Lebanese citizens stranded abroad ended on Friday, while a third phase is expected to take place between May 14 and 24.
On Friday, six Middle East Airlines flights landed at Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut coming from Kuwait, Dubai, Minsk, Moscow, Douala and London.
