The MUT in a press conference today has said that health authorities are confirming that the Covid-19 variant is now causing more than half of the new cases, and at the same time they are also saying that it is “infecting children more where they are unlikely to have symptoms, but can still transmit it.”

Therefore, it said, “in schools this changes the situation completely. Where until recently experts were saying that the virus is not affecting children and that transmission in schools is minimal, it has now been confirmed by the authorities that children are receiving and transmitting this virus variant.”

In the absence of timely decisions by the authorities, the MUT said that it is registering an industrial dispute and will meet later with the government to convey its position.

The MUT council will also convene later this evening to further discuss the situation and take the necessary steps, it said.

Accordingly, the MUT stressed that “the risks to the health and safety of educators, all those who work in schools, and families, have now increased and the government must take responsibility in its decisions.”

“This is all the more so with the new information that has now been confirmed by the authorities about the variant and the infection on children,” it said.

“The process of vaccinating educators is lagging behind and one cannot turn a blind eye when there are still large numbers of school workers who have not yet even received an appointment,” the union said.

It went on to say that, “we also know from experts that, unless there is herd immunity, the virus will continue to be transmitted in the community and every possible measure must continue to be taken by the government to curb the pandemic.”

The MUT argued that, “the situation we are seeing is exactly the opposite. The number of new cases is rising every day and it is clear that there is no control over the situation.”

“This was confirmed by the decision of the Education Minister when she gave his approval over the past days for some schools to go completely online,” it said.

The MUT said that it has always stressed that it “expects schools to move together, both as educational sectors and nationally. The measure announced for government workers by the OPM, namely the telework directive 13, protects government workers but fails to protect educators, school staff and families.”

“Schools are, after all, already on the edge considering that there are a growing number of positive cases of the virus, more educators, students and whole families in quarantine and educators with the effects of the vaccine. They are so close that school service can no longer be sustained,” the union said.

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