EDB announces latest arrangements of face-to-face classes for schools
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     The Education Bureau (EDB) issued a letter to all schools in Hong Kong today (October 25), announcing the latest arrangements of face-to-face classes including the suspension of vaccination requirements to be implemented in secondary schools starting from November 1. Individual primary schools meeting the required vaccination rate may apply for whole-day face-to-face classes starting from December 1.

     A spokesman for the EDB said, "The EDB has been maintaining close communication with the school sector and listening to the advice of health experts in order to review and adjust the related anti-epidemic measures and schooling arrangements in a timely manner. The Government's overall anti-epidemic direction is to create the greatest room for people's livelihood and economic activities, and enable schools to maintain a stable teaching and learning environment as far as possible, in order to strike a balance between epidemic prevention and learning.

     "At present, schools as a whole will continue half-day face-to-face classes until further notice. Considering that those secondary schools which have currently resumed whole-day face-to-face classes may need more time to increase the vaccination rates, the schools also expect to continue the whole-day face-to-face class arrangements until the new vaccination requirements are met, the EDB will suspend the new vaccination requirements which was planned to be implemented in secondary schools. In addition, in order to allow primary students to gradually resume normal learning and activity so as to address their learning, social, physical and mental needs, individual primary schools meeting the required vaccination rates may apply for whole-day face-to-face classes."

     The updated arrangements for whole-day face-to-face classes are as follows:

     For secondary schools, the EDB will suspend the vaccination requirements to be implemented from November 1, 2022 as announced in the letter to schools on August 30, 2022. The existing whole-day face-to-face class arrangements (i.e. 90 per cent or more of the total number of students of the whole school or an individual class level eligible to receive vaccination have received two doses of vaccine for more than 14 days may apply to the EDB for whole-day face-to-face classes) will continue until January 31, 2023. For individual secondary schools plan to resume face-to-face classes for the whole school or individual class levels on or after February 1, 2023, students who have received three doses of vaccine must reach 90 per cent or above of the total number of students of the whole school or an individual class level eligible to receive vaccination.

     For primary schools, in order to allow primary students to gradually resume normal school life, starting from December 1, 2022, if the number of students of individual primary schools reach 70 per cent or more of the total number of students of the whole school or an individual class level eligible to receive vaccination have received two doses of vaccine for more than 14 days, those schools may apply to the EDB. The EDB will take into account the actual circumstances of schools to allow them to resume whole-day face-to-face classes for the whole school or individual class levels.

     In addition, starting from today, if individual primary students who have received two doses of vaccine for more than 14 days, schools may arrange these students to stay at school the other half-day for non-academic extra-curricular activities. These students may also participate in some mask-off activities at school (including both in-class and after-class activities).

     The vaccination requirements for individual secondary students to participate in extra-curricular activities will remain unchanged, that is, they must have received three doses of vaccine. Students of secondary and primary schools who are unfit for vaccination with medical proofs or students who have previously been infected with COVID-19 which render them unable to be vaccinated can be exempted from the relevant vaccination requirements.

     The EDB has issued the letter to schools on the above arrangements. The letter can be found on the EDB's website (www.edb.gov.hk/attachment/en/sch-admin/admin/about-sch/diseases-prevention/edb_20221025_eng.pdf). Schools should continue to strictly put in place the various anti-epidemic measures stipulated in the "Health Protection Measures for Schools" issued and updated by the EDB from time to time and the "Health Advice to Schools for the Prevention of COVID-19" issued by the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health.

     In addition, the daily Rapid Antigen Test arrangements will continue until further notice. The EDB will continue to render assistance to students with financial needs. Schools should inform the related arrangements to parents, students and stakeholders as early as possible.

     Vaccination is the most effective way of protection and can reduce the risk of severe cases and fatalities. The EDB strongly urges schools and parents to make full use of the various measures offered by the Government to arrange vaccination for their students. If students have already received the first and second doses, the EDB encourages eligible students to receive the third dose of vaccination as soon as possible.

Ends/Tuesday, October 25, 2022
Issued at HKT 23:02

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