EDB announces latest anti-epidemic measures and class arrangements for schools
******************************************************************************
Whole-day face-to-face classes will be resumed progressively from February 2023 in an orderly manner. The EDB decided that, regardless of student vaccination rates, all secondary schools (including secondary sections of special schools) will resume whole-day face-to-face classes from February 1 while primary schools (including primary sections of special schools) and kindergartens will resume from February 15.
The Vaccine Pass requirement for schools has been lifted starting from December 29. Teachers, school staff and other persons are no longer required to possess a valid Vaccine Pass for entering schools. Arrangements for after-class activities are also relaxed. For schools currently conducting half-day face-to-face classes, all students can return to schools for after-class activities on the other half-day. Students who lack carers to take care of them at home may also stay at school for activities.
A spokesman for the EDB said, "As teacher-student interactions and activities are frequent on school campuses, there is a higher risk of transmission. In addition, as students (especially the younger ones) are one of the priority protection groups, the EDB will continue to require secondary, primary school and kindergarten (including special school) students, teachers and school staff to undergo a rapid antigen test (RAT) every day before going to school tentatively until January 31, 2023. Teachers, school staff and students with a positive RAT result should inform their school, and should not return to school for work or lessons. Schools concerned should report to the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health. The EDB will continue to review the situation and announce the arrangements thereafter in due course. In addition, arrangements for whole-day face-to-face classes during the aforementioned period are only applicable to schools that have reached the required vaccination rates."
Vaccination is the most effective way of protection and can reduce the risk of severe cases and fatalities resulting from co-infection of COVID-19 and influenza. 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.
The EDB has issued the letter to schools on the above arrangements. The letter has been uploaded to the EDB's website (www.edb.gov.hk/en/sch-admin/admin/about-sch/diseases-prevention/index.html).
Ends/Friday, December 30, 2022
Issued at HKT 19:01
Issued at HKT 19:01
NNNN