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The count of deaths from coronavirus in the last 24 hours consolidates the decline in Italy, with a sharp drop from the previous day: 260 dead compared to 415 on Saturday . It is the lowest figure since March 15. Since the beginning of the epidemic, at least 197,675 people have contracted the virus. The increase compared to yesterday is 2,324 cases, representing a growth of 1.2%. The deceased now total 26,644, while 64,928 people (an increase of 2.9%) were discharged, according to the data provided by Civil Protection.

The country awaits this Sunday to know the official details about the de-escalation. But the Executive's warning is clear: as soon as the epidemic curve increases again, the Government of Italy and the regional authorities will take measures of containment and isolation again . This is the line decided at the Chigi Palace during the meetings prior to the announcement of the new decree, which will be released this Sunday by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte.

Meanwhile, the Italian government promises that schools will reopen their doors in September , so as not to risk "the health of children," Conte said in an interview published this Sunday by the newspaper 'La Repubblica'.

"The school is at the center of our thoughts and will reopen in September. But all the scenarios of an expert committee foresaw high risks of contagion in the event that the schools reopened" before that date. The start of the de-escalation is scheduled for May 4, but the classrooms and restaurants will have to wait.

Reopen nurseries and schools

However, a study by the Milan Polytechnic estimates that "the reopening of nurseries and primary schools is already possible." Their conclusions are based on the analysis of the "system". An "engineer" model. If taken into consideration, it could revolutionize the handling of "Phase two" of the epidemic: a complete change of scenery compared to the hypotheses circulated so far.

At the base, an aspect that until now no one has had the courage to touch: the reopening of kindergartens and primary schools, perhaps even middle schools. The cornerstone of the analysis developed by a Milan Polytechnic working group may appear a "bold" proposal . Instead, it has very well-founded foundations and was born within one of the most advanced points of the Italian scientific community.

Restart enabling classrooms

The job was created to answer an apparently simple question. Now that mothers and fathers will have to go back to work (albeit with limitations), who will take care of the younger children? Many families will have the forced option to turn to grandparents (if they are lucky enough to have them around), putting at risk the most fragile people, those who must maintain the highest level of protection.

"Obviously, it would be a different school from the one we know, in terms of schedules, shifts, class composition," explains the rector of the Polytechnic, Ferruccio Resta . "Engineers work under certain restrictions: if, therefore, the restriction will be the distance of one or two meters, why can adults go to the office or travel by public transport keeping that distance and students not? "

The question cannot be answered except taking into account another decisive aspect: "Today we cannot reason about the school only because of its cultural value, which nobody disputes. Now the school can have an additional value , it can become an enabling element for the restart. Not considering school in this perspective would be a mistake, it would prevent some possibilities. Not forgetting that even the smallest need social relationships. "

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