This is the moment a nine year-old girl wept with joy on learning her school was reopening for lessons 358 days after Covid closed it. Clara Zanotto immediately started sobbing as her mother Tarine held up a piece of paper saying: ‘You are going back to school.’

Clara said: ‘Really? I haven’t gone to school in such a long time…almost a year’ She gave her mom a hug while crying, then began jumping up and down with happiness. Clara will head back to school in Redondo Beach in Los Angeles, on March 3.

Tarine shared the news with her daughter using a series of cue cards, including one which read ‘358 days’ – the length of time Clara’s school has been shut – and ’03/03/2021′ – the date she would finally head back to class.

The video, filmed by Clara’s dad Mauricio, was shared by campaign group Reopen California Schools, which has been pushing for in-person tuition to return, KABC reported. Falling Covid numbers have prompted some Los Angeles schools to begin reopening, although others are holding out until staff have been vaccinated.

Reopening schools has proven one of the most contentious and fiercely-debated issues throughout the pandemic. Parents, students and pro-reopening campaigners say home learning is having a terrible effect on children’s education, as well as their mental health.

They say the most vulnerable children – those living in poverty, or in abusive homes – are the least likely to benefit from online lessons, and that their life chances are being irreparably damaged.

Experts also warn that being away from friends and teachers has also wrought a terrible toll on many youngsters’ mental health, with Covid blamed for a sharp upswing in suicide rates among young people.

Meanwhile, teachers have insisted they are working harder than ever to provide online tuition, and that classrooms are potential ‘super-spreader’ sites.

Many also worry that they or their loved ones are at higher risk of a serious Covid infection by returning to school.

The US has now recorded more than 28.4 million Covid cases, and more than 508,000 deaths.

Cases, hospitalizations and deaths have all dropped to their lowest levels since last year, sparking hope that the pandemic may finally be coming to an end.

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