Elementary pupils in Russia return to classrooms amid coronavirus pandemic

New rules for schools in Moscow came into force Monday as the country grappled with a spike in new coronavirus cases.

Elementary schoolchildren are still allowed to come to classrooms but students from 6th to 11th grades moved their studies online until November 2.

With the move, Moscow authorities say they are trying to protect teachers amidst a second wave of the pandemic.

The director of Moscow school number 1502 Vladimir Chudov told the AP that the school should continue teaching, despite the "difficult circumstances."

Some students seem to be pleased that they are still allowed to come to school.

"This is the best place to learn new things," said 4th grader Margaria Stepanenkova.

"You can always speak with someone here and you don't have to ruin your eyesight by staring at a laptop screen," she explained.

"It's a lot more fun in school too," her classmate Pyotr Gorelov added.

While elementary students have been allowed to return to classrooms after a fall break, Russian secondary and high schoolers have had to adjust to online learning.

The deputy director of school number 1502 and physics teacher Denis Britov told the AP that "online classes have become much more familiar nowadays, both for teachers and (high school) students."

Russia reported almost 16,000 new coronavirus cases on Monday, the highest single-day number since the beginning of the pandemic.

According to the Russian government's coronavirus task force, the 15,982 confirmed infections brought the country's total to over 1.4 million, which is the fourth largest in the world.

The task force has also reported over 24,300 deaths since the start of the outbreak.

Russian authorities lifted most virus-related restrictions over the summer and have said there were no immediate plans to impose a second lockdown despite the resurgence.