Mexican schools re-opened after a year and a half of closure

Thousands of Mexican schools opened ir doors on Monday after a year-and-a-half of closure, with a voluntary and hybrid system between in-person learning and virtual lessons.

"We are truly uneasy," said Veronica Ruiz after dropping off her daughter at a Veracruz school.

"A boy or girl could have disease, and this could spread, and n y could spread it to ors," she said.

new school year begins at a time when Mexico is amid its third wave of COVID-19 infections and has recorded more than 380,000 COVID-19 confirmed deaths.

About 64% of its adult population has received at least one dose of vaccine, but very few children are vaccinated.

" return to classes doesn't necessarily mean a greater risk for kids who return to school r for community," said public health expert Miguel Betancourt.

But y have to follow basic hygiene, vigilance and ventilation conditions and be prepared to constantly make adjustments if necessary, according to UNICEF and Pan American Health Organization.

Mexico has more than 30 million students, 25 million of those in basic education.

y make up a significant portion of 100 million children affected by school closures across Latin America during past 18 months.

region already faced existing obstacles that put many of its students behind ir peers in or parts of world.

UNICEF regional advisor Vincenzo Placco warned that pandemic will sharpen learning crisis in region "with long-term consequences on development of an entire generation of students."

In Mexico along, 5.2 million students did t enroll in last semester because of issues related to pandemic or a lack of resources, according to country's Interior Ministry.

"y cant remain stagnant, locked up," said Blanca Martínez after dropping off her son, who is beginning his first year of high school.

"If disease is going to remain and given that it will t be eradicated, n we have to carry on," she said.