by In Trieste
The Italian government is facing growing calls to drop its mask mandate in schools, before it expires on 15 June, as students face rising temperatures in the classroom in the final weeks of the summer term.
Leading the calls for the mask mandate to be scrapped is Italy’s education undersecretary, Rossano Sasso of the right-wing Lega party, who said he has been asked by “many families to adopt a measure of common sense for the last part of the school year.”
This view is echoed by Lega leader Matteo Salvini who said: “It doesn’t make sense, let’s change this unnecessarily punitive rule, the children deserve it”, reports Il Sole 24 Ore newspaper.
The debate comes as the government confirmed its mask mandate on planes would remain in force until 15 June following news that the EU would cease obliging air travelers to wear masks from 16 May.
FFP2 masks must be worn until 15 June on all local and long-distance public transport as well as in cinemas, theaters, hospitals, care homes, indoor sporting events, concerts, schools and universities.
