Teachers and pupils had to wear face masks as schools in Greece reopened on Monday (September 14).

New COVID-19 guidelines insist teachers and pupils must wear a mask indoors as well as in outdoor spaces with high levels of crowding and school buses.

A parent wearing a mask with a "resist to dictatorship" slogan written on it said: "I was forced to send my child to school wearing a mask, despite the fact I do not agree on that measure. Because my child suffers from allergies, I believe in a short space of time there will be many problems regarding mandatory mask use."

The Deputy Mayor for Education of Thessaloniki, Dimitra Akritidou, said: "Τhe procedure must be followed as defined by the Ministry of Health, there is a health protocol for schools and the school principal is aware of this, if there are questions, information is available."

Students will be sent home and marked as absent if they refuse to wear a face mask.

Schools throughout Greece opened on Monday but in completely different conditions than other years, as the pandemic has necessitated changes and a long list of protection measures, starting with the use of face masks by all and the careful cleaning of hands, classrooms and equipment. Both teachers and pupils must wear a mask at all times in all indoor areas of the school building, as well as outdoor spaces with high levels of crowding, on school buses and during the adjustment period in kindergartens.

A parent wearing a mask handwritten in Greek "resist to dictatorship" says on camera: "I was forced to send my child to school wearing a mask, despite I did not agree on that measure. Because my child suffers from allergies, I believe in a short of time there will be many problems regarding mandatory mask use"

"Τhe procedure must be followed as defined by the Ministry of Health, there is a health protocol for schools and the school principal is aware of this, whoever has questions can find out in detail. I can understand that when a child gets sick it should be confirmed, especially if it is a respiratory infection, if it really is a coronavirus case" says Deputy Mayor for Education of Thessaloniki, Dimitra Akritidou, answering parents' questions for the new COVID-19 measures on schools.

If a pupil does not comply with the rules on the use of masks, he will not be allowed to enter the classroom, marked as absent and sent home. Face masks will be provided and distributed to pupils and teachers by the state at schools, while junior school children will also be given their own water canteens.