Five teachers at Jõhvi Basic School (Jõhvi põhikool) have been confirmed to have coronavirus, deputy mayor of Jõhvi Maris Toomel told ERR on Tuesday. 

Now, in order to limit the spread of the infection, the municipality has decided to postpone the start lessons in the classroom at Jõhvi Basic School, Jõhvi Russian Basic School (Jõhvi Vene Põhikool) and hobby schools until the start of September 7.

In both basic schools, only 1st and 9th-grade students will take part in the first day of school ceremony on September 1.

Jõhvi Basic School principal Liina Mihkelson told newspaper Maaleht: "We are currently planning to start teaching on September 7, next week we will look and observe the situation in Ida-Viru County and Jõhvi. We will take three days to clarify this. If there are more infections, one option is to go for distance learning, either completely or only on the 5th-9th. classes with students."

According to the director, the school is communicating with the Health Board and the Ministry of Education with the rural municipality government.

Mihkelson said the diagnosed teachers only have mild symptoms: "Nobody is seriously ill, hopefully, there will be no more infected people. Fortunately, we have few teachers at risk and the team consists of young educators."

ERR was told by Jõhvi State High School (Jõhvi riigigümnaasium) that the opening ceremony for the 10th grade will take place there on September 1, and from September 2, the usual teaching will take place in the school building. At present, there are no people infected with the coronavirus at the high school.

Ida-Viru County is in the middle of an outbreak of coronavirus which stems from Jõhvi Kelder bar and spread to a nearby mine. More than 30 cases have been linked to the outbreak. Today, 13 new cases were diagnosed in the county.

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