The government announced today (11th) the resumption of classes. Primary schools can resume half-day face-to-face classes in phases from April 19th at the earliest, and secondary schools will start from May 3rd. All teachers and students of the school must undergo rapid testing before returning to school.
The Education Bureau has sent a letter to all school principals in Hong Kong, stating that the school will not be required to suspend classes due to sporadic cases. When about 5% or more of teachers and students in the school or 10% of the same class have new positive cases, the CHP will investigate and follow up. The authorities will adjust the arrangements in late May depending on the epidemic situation.
As for the distribution method of the government's 10 million quick test kits, the Education Bureau replied to the "Hong Kong 01" inquiry that it would distribute the quick test kits to students from families receiving textbook allowances and CSSA through publicly-funded schools, and the number would be sufficient until the end of May. .
▼On April 11, the Education Bureau announced that schools will resume classes from 4.19▼
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5% of the whole school or 10% of the same class will be infected by the Department of Health to study whether to suspend classes
The Education Bureau mentioned in the letter that if 5% or more of the total number of teachers and students in the school have new positive cases, or 10% or more of students in individual classes have new cases, the CHP will initiate an epidemiological investigation and will conduct an epidemiological investigation. Consider appropriate follow-up measures, including studying whether to suspend classes according to the epidemic situation in the school, conduct thorough disinfection and improve ventilation arrangements, etc. If there are sporadic cases in schools, unless the Center for Protection makes individual instructions, classes can continue with adequate measures.
Teachers and students who are infected with the virus in the same school may not be regarded as close contacts
The bureau also pointed out that in general, the school does not need to suspend classes for the presence of close contacts. Under adequate hygiene protection measures, staff and students who have been in contact with the confirmed cases on campus are generally not considered close contacts.
The government will review the outbreak in late May and consider adjusting relevant arrangements.
Schools generally need to log in to the platform before 10 a.m. to report the results of the quick test
The bureau reiterated that it will require all teachers and students of the school to take a rapid test before returning to school, and pointed out that relevant persons must obtain a negative certificate before returning to school, and if they are positive, they must notify the school and stay at home, and report through the rapid test platform.
Schools are also required to log in to the website of the designated platform before 10:00 a.m. every day (before 2:00 p.m. every day for afternoon schools) and report the number of positive cases on that day, even if there are no cases.
The bureau said that the school can randomly check cases and request a review. The school can also consider assisting students to take rapid tests with the prior consent of parents, including teaching staff to help students complete the test. If the test is not completed in time, the class will not be allowed.
▼Sham Shui Po rapid antigen test price hit a new low on April 10▼
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500,000 students who do not meet the funding need to purchase a quick test kit
In addition, the Education Bureau will provide 10 million rapid antigen test kits free of charge for 300,000 students to use within the first month of resumption of classes, and the remaining 500,000 students need to purchase their own rapid antigen test kits.
Which students are eligible?
When responding to the enquiry of "Hong Kong 01", the bureau stated that it will distribute rapid antigen test kits to students with financial needs through publicly-funded schools, such as receiving comprehensive social security assistance, benefiting from working families and school books of the Student Financial Assistance Agency Students in the stipend scheme for their daily rapid tests before returning to school, sufficient to last until the end of May.
▼Reporters tried a new coronavirus rapid antigen test▼
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▼1.11 The government announced that classes will be suspended from 1.14 at the latest▼
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Resumption of classes｜Students look forward to returning to school to see their classmates Principal urged to send quick test kits to grassroots students to resume classes｜The government sent 10 million sets of quick test kits to 300,000 poor students to make adjustments and resume classes in mid-May｜Long-term suspension of classes may cause deep addiction to the Internet and bullying The department stated that face-to-face teaching is a necessary measure to resume classes | Elementary, primary, and kindergarten arrangements overview daily delivery of quick test results, extra-curricular activities must be given injections to resume classes | Starting from 4.19, face-to-face teaching teachers and students must take daily quick tests without all injections and are not allowed to participate in non-academic activities. Timetable for resumption of classes｜ Primary schools resume face-to-face teaching on April 19, middle schools, and kindergartens resume classes on May 10 and 16 at the latest | The academic community is worried about the daily rapid testing, increasing the pressure on parents
