Up to two years in prison awaits parents in Greece who refuse to let their children go to school because of disagreement with the imposed health protocols for COVID-19, writes the local newspaper “Ethnos”. The government is preparing a legal change that provides for imprisonment and consequences for citizens’ parental rights. The request comes from Education Minister Niki Kerameos.
According to the publication, in some parts of the country there are many cases of parents refusing their children to attend school. Some students are absent from school for too long and are in danger of losing the year.
The school year in Greece began in September with the introduction of mandatory protocols aimed at curbing the spread of the pandemic.
According to the rules, students, teachers and non-teaching staff who have not been vaccinated must take home tests twice a week. The results are entered in a special platform that issues a map to the students. With this card they go to school.
At the beginning of the introduction of the new requirements, there were parents who refused to have their children tested and wear masks. There were protests in front of some schools and complaints against teachers and principals.
In such a situation, the school first contacts the parents. If he does not receive an answer, he informs the Directorate of Education. The prosecutor’s office and social services will be informed.
The prosecutor’s office must investigate the signal and in some cases the parental rights may be revoked. However, the current procedure does not provide for criminal prosecution for parents who stop their children from school. The Ministry of Education, in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice, plans to eliminate this omission, as a result of which the parents will be held criminally liable.
At the same time, a poll shows that a large number of Greek citizens support the introduction of compulsory vaccination, Kathimerini writes. 66 percent of those who took part in a Pulse survey called for mandatory vaccination of certain occupational groups. A large proportion of those who say they have already been vaccinated or plan to do so. Half of the respondents want stricter measures for the unvaccinated.
The goal of the Greek government is to achieve 80 percent vaccination coverage for its population, the Greek newspaper Proto Tema writes, citing a statement by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in an interview with the Washington Post.
The government categorically rejects the possibility of imposing a lockdown, the publication also points out. Yesterday, government spokesman Yannis Economou reiterated efforts to increase the number of first- and third-dose vaccines, support the health care system and strengthen control over the implementation of measures imposed by Athens on its unvaccinated citizens.
Less than 7,000 newly infected and 78 deaths were registered in the country yesterday.
Meanwhile, the Bulgarian National Radio announced an increased interest in vaccination against the virus, found by the Greek authorities after the introduction of restrictions against the non-immunized. About 70,000 a day get vaccinated, according to the health ministry. Greeks are already waiting in line in many places in the country in front of vaccination centers. Some doctors from the Pandemic Control Council insist on the introduction of compulsory vaccination and testing even people with two doses. The government refused to implement these measures.
A problem for the authorities is the large number of about 570 thousand citizens over the age of 60 who have not been vaccinated even with the first dose.
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