A student offers hand sanitizer to a fellow schoolmate at Christian and Missionary Alliance Sun Kei Secondary School in Tseung Kwan O, Hong Kong, on Sept 23, 2020. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG – Hong Kong schools resumed on-site classes on Wednesday, as students of the first, fifth and sixth grades of secondary and primary schools as well as the kindergarten K3 grade returned to campus after three weeks of e-learning in the new school year. 

To begin with, schools will mostly adopt half-day classes and stagger the timings, such as for lunch, to avoid overcrowding, as per infection control rules issued by the Education Bureau (EDB).

Teaching staff and students must wear masks at all times, maintain proper hand hygiene and social distancing, and have their body temperature checked every day before returning to schools.

An Education Bureau spokesman

“According to our understanding from schools and principal associations of various districts, the situation of schools and traffic arrangements this morning was generally smooth,” an EDB spokesman said. 

“We thank schools for making preparations for putting in place all the necessary anti-epidemic measures before the resumption of face-to-face classes,” he added.

According to the bureau’s guidelines, schools are advised to suspend on-campus teaching and activities for 14 days if a teaching staff or student gets infected. Health authorities will conduct testing for all the students and staff if needed.

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“As the epidemic is still evolving, we must strictly observe all the anti-epidemic measures. Teaching staff and students must wear masks at all times, maintain proper hand hygiene and social distancing, and have their body temperature checked every day before returning to schools,” the spokesman said. 

“If they have symptoms, they should seek medical advice promptly and refrain from going to school. Schools should also strengthen cleaning and disinfection of school premises, maintain good ventilation of classrooms and avoid the gathering of crowds.”

Chim Hon-ming, principal of Chiu Sheung School Hong Kong, told China Daily in text messages that his school will follow guidelines if a student or teacher tests positive for the coronavirus.

Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung on Monday visited Chim’s school in Western district, where he was briefed on the school’s preparatory work for class resumption, including adoption of enhanced sanitation and distancing measures.

A teacher from Pui Kiu Middle School, who asked her name be withheld, said over the phone that school staff will strictly follow EDB guidelines. She cited the instance of a pupil who was confirmed as infected last week to stress underlying infection risks.

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Last week, a 10-year-old girl at FDBWA Chow Chin Yau School in Tuen Mun tested positive for the virus. The primary school said in a notice that all the staff would take coronavirus tests before classes for Primary One, Five and Six students resumed on Wednesday as scheduled.

As per findings of an online survey conducted by the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong last week, more than half of the 1,324 local parents polled thought the timing was appropriate to resume on-site classes, while nearly three quarters said they were worried about a return of local outbreaks.

Traffic was largely smooth on Wednesday morning and the city’s public transport services handled the surge in travel well, the Transport Department said in a statement issued around 10 am.

Contact the writer at jefferygu@chinadailyhk.com