Many tens of thousands of young people return to school in the north of Germany on Monday. There they have to deal with new rules to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

German schools closed in March due to the outbreak of the infectious virus. They will open again on Monday in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the first state where the summer holidays are over. In some places in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, teaching is also standard yet.

The more than 152,000 students in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern are in for a new experience. For example, students are divided into groups that are kept apart.

This is to prevent the virus from catching on within a school. Social distancing does not need to be done within these groups.

A headmaster in Rostock said he was optimistic about the implementation of the new policy. Teachers are ready to support students who are nervous or who do not yet understand what exactly is intended.

According to the school principal, action will also be taken if young people fail to wear a mask in the corridors of the school building.

Schools will also reopen soon in other places in Germany. This will take place in Berlin and North Rhine-Westphalia bordering the Netherlands next week.