유럽 22개국 "개학해도 코로나19 확산 없었다" 잠정 결론<br /><br />Over in Europe, there has been no significant increase in coronavirus infections after schools in 22 EU countries were reopened.<br />However, the vast majority of the reopened schools have been open for just a fortnight prompting the Croatian minister who holds the EU's rolling presidency to suggest that the positive results need to be treated with some caution.<br />How schools are reopening in Europe, our Lee Kyung-eun reports.<br />The majority of EU member states believe reopening schools has not led to any significant rise in COVID-19 cases,... at least for now.<br />Education ministers of 22 European countries concluded this in Monday's videoconference following students' gradual return to classrooms about two weeks ago.<br />17 of the countries are taking a more tentative approach, allowing only certain grades to go back to school namely kindergartens, elementary schools and the final years of high school.<br />Despite the wave of school reopenings, there hasn't been any large spike in cases or any other negative impact in the region.<br />The Croatian education minister, chairing a meeting of her European counterparts, stressed the importance of the quarantine measures that schools have taken to keep them safe.<br />That includes schools running classes with fewer students, usually in groups of around 15,... as well as closely following the government guidelines.<br />However, she said the "positive results must be treated with caution", saying that it may be too early to make a final conclusion.<br />In the UK and France, there is still much debate over school safety.<br />Just one week after some 40-thousand preschools and primary schools opened last week, France has seen about 70 new cases linked to 7 institutions.<br />But the French education minister Jean-Michel Blanquer said the outbreak is only minor, and that it is more damaging for students to stay home than go to school.<br />Over in the UK, the government's plan to resume primary schools starting June 1st is facing pressure from teachers' and doctors' unions.<br />Lee Kyung-eun, Arirang News.<br />
