President Donald Trump on Monday wanted to reopen many American schools before the summer vacation, but said the decision would be up to state governors. "I think we will see many schools reopening even for a short time, and that would be a good thing," he said at a White House media briefing. The "Young people seem to cope well" against the new coronavirus, said the Republican billionaire.
Most American schools were closed several weeks ago as part of containment measures to stem the pandemic, which, like elsewhere in the world, makes it difficult for many parents to work at home. Despite these measures, the pandemic has progressed rapidly in the United States, where there are nearly a million cases and 56,000 deaths. But it seems to be marking time, and the president, impatient to revive the economy, presented a dozen days ago a plan to restart the country.
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In the strategy defended by the White House, schools should not be reopened until a second time, at least fifteen days after the resumption of other economic activities. But Donald Trump appeared to sweep this calendar on Monday. "I know that some governors are not yet ready to reopen their state but could be ready to reopen their schools, it is their choice," he said.
Schoolchildren from several European countries have already found the classrooms, especially in Denmark and Norway, and others will follow soon, like the little French and Dutch from May 11. Despite the precautions announced, some parents and teachers remain worried and Paris had to announce that the start of the school year would be on a voluntary basis.
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