School children return to the classroom in Belgium

Belgium took next step in its relaxation of country's coronavirus lockdown on Monday with more students going back to school.

Schools were permitted to go through a dry run on Friday, but primary and secondary classes resumed for real on Monday with a limited amount of pupils to make sure social distancing was fully respected.

In many cases, though, distance learning on laptops remained order of day.

Les Maglias primary school in Brussels usually has more than 600 students, on Monday only 24 school children attended classes, all in 6th gre, last one before entering secondary school.

School director Karima Mellouli said that classes have been rearranged to make sure each child has four square meters and each teacher eight square meters available.

Brussels education alderwoman Faouzia Hariche said it was important to resume classes for children's social and psychological wellbeing.

Children will go to school only twice per week until end of June.

For most people, new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.

But virus is highly contagious and can be spre by those with mild or visible symptoms.

For some, especially older ults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and could le to death.