Italy Weighs Steps to Join Europe’s Cautious Virus Reopening
Italy is beginning to look at easing its lockdown after Denmark and Austria became the first two European countries to loosen restrictions as governments seek to gradually revive economies crippled by the containment measures without risking a second wave of infection…
In Norway, schools, universities and technical colleges will start reopening from April 27, Solberg said. Services that require personal contact, such as hairdressers and physiotherapists, can be resumed gradually, while restrictions on large sporting and cultural events will remain in place until June 15.
Europe prepares to ease coronavirus lockdowns
Angelo Borrelli, head of Italy’s Civil Protection Agency which is in charge of co-ordinating the national response to the outbreak, suggested a “phase two” of the country’s lockdown could begin next month. “I don’t want to give dates, but between now and May 16 we may have further positive data that suggests we can resume activities and then start phase two,” he said.
Is Italy Still on Lockdown? Country Reopens Some Stores After Recording Lowest Increase in Daily Deaths Since March
The government was said to be developing a five-point plan for reopening up businesses in stages, while several mitigation measures are still maintained, Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper reported.
Italy’s Education Must Go On(line)
…8.4 million students have been forced to switch to online learning for an indefinite period of time—a transition that’s proven challenging for a country that’s fifth-to-last among EU members in digital performance…And on top of everything, there’s the pervasive loss and trauma of the pandemic. “The virus here has killed grandparents, mothers, and fathers in almost all the families of my students and teachers”, wrote a school director in Bergamo. “Long story short, terror, depression, and bewilderment have strongly influenced the initial didactic impetus and all the goodwill of teachers and pupils.” Online lessons diminish in importance for students and teachers who have lost, or are about to lose, a loved one.
A Global View of the Pandemic’s Effect on Higher Education
Despite the fact that 5 percent of all students in Italy are international students, Italian universities seem relatively safe from collapse if international students fully change plans post-pandemic. The primary indicator that this may be the case is that Italian universities do not charge higher fees to non-European Union students. So while student fees vary widely across the country, it is evident that institutions are not attempting to differentially depend on them as a revenue source.