(Fighting against New Coronary Pneumonia) After the resumption of classes in Hong Kong schools, staff and students must test negative daily before returning to school
China News Agency, Hong Kong, April 11 (Reporter Zhang Xiaoxi) The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, announced on the 11th that after the school resumes classes in stages, all staff and students will undergo a daily rapid antigen test, and only after negative results can return to school.
In addition, students who have not been vaccinated against the new crown may not participate in some non-academic activities after returning to school to reduce the risk of infection.
Carrie Lam made the above remarks at the anti-epidemic press conference held at the SAR Government Headquarters on the same day.
She believes that the current epidemic situation in Hong Kong is gradually under control, and the number of positive cases is clearly showing a continuous downward trend. In addition, the school has strictly implemented a number of epidemic prevention measures, including improving the ventilation system of the school building, and almost all staff have completed the vaccination against the new crown. Schools are gradually resuming face-to-face classes after the Easter break.
Carrie Lam said that although the resumption of classes has the risk of causing a rebound in the epidemic, after weighing the pros and cons, the SAR government believes that the overall risk is controllable, and the decision to resume classes is based on the best interests of students.
She emphasized that after the school resumes classes, the SAR government requires staff and students to take a daily rapid antigen test, and only after a negative result can return to school; those who test positive must immediately notify the school and report to the Center for Health Protection of the SAR Government Department of Health.
She also said that the SAR government will provide schools with 10 million rapid antigen test kits free of charge, which will be distributed by the school to students in need.
The SAR Government will regularly review the situation and decide whether to continue the regular rapid testing arrangement or increase the supply of free testing kits.
Carrie Lam pointed out that the current situation of Hong Kong's school children aged 3 to 11 being vaccinated against the new crown is not ideal. Only about 62% and 28% of the school children have received the first and second doses of the vaccine respectively. The vaccination rate is higher than that of 12 to 19 years old. Students are low.
She called on parents to arrange for their children to be vaccinated as soon as possible.
In addition, Yang Runxiong, director of the Education Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, pointed out at the same press conference that primary schools in Hong Kong can resume half-day face-to-face classes as early as April 19, and whole-school face-to-face classes as of May 3 at the latest; middle schools can resume face-to-face classes as early as May 5 Classes will be resumed in stages on their own from May 3, and half-day classes will be resumed on May 10 at the latest; kindergartens will resume classes in three stages, one-third of students will resume face-to-face classes on May 3, and two-thirds will resume after May 10. On May 16, face-to-face classes will be fully resumed.
He emphasized that the SAR government will strengthen the requirements for "vaccine passports" in schools and follow up the relevant situation.
If the number of positive cases in schools reaches more than 5% after the resumption of classes, the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health will conduct an investigation and consider whether to follow up and make a decision to suspend classes.
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