China's Confidence in Overcoming COVID-19(?)... Gradual Reopening of Elementary, Middle, and High Schools Nationwide

Starting with High School Seniors Returning to School, Dedicated Bus Routes for High School Seniors Introduced
Maintain 1m Distance During Commute, Temperature Checks Thrice Daily, Divided Classes, Lunch in Designated Areas with Partitions Installed

Students in Shanghai wearing masks attending school amid COVID-19 [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Young-shin] According to the Chinese state-run Global Times on the 28th (local time), Chinese elementary, middle, and high schools, which had postponed the start of the semester due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), have gradually reopened.

According to the Global Times, on the 27th, about 50,000 third-year high school students from 245 high schools in Beijing returned to school and began classes. The number of third-year high school students in China reaches 10 million. The newspaper reported that these students entered classrooms after having their smartphone health codes checked and their temperatures measured at the school gates. The Global Times also introduced quarantine procedures where students with a temperature of 37.3 degrees Celsius or higher are transported to nearby hospitals.

Schools are required to measure students' temperatures three times a day?before school, at noon, and in the afternoon?and report the results to the education authorities. The dismissal procedures have also changed from the past. Before classes ended, school staff disinfected the area around the school gates, and students wearing masks maintained a 1-meter distance while leaving school in order, the newspaper reported.

Classes were divided into groups to maintain distance between students, and lunch was only allowed in designated areas equipped with partitions, the newspaper added.

In some schools, to prevent cross-infection, the school cafeterias (canteens) were closed. During lunchtime, meals were delivered to each classroom, and students ate lunch at their own desks, the Global Times reported.

The newspaper also introduced that in Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, a separate bus route was established exclusively for third-year high school students to prevent COVID-19 infection. This bus, which can be reserved via a mobile phone application (app), is only available to third-year high school students. The Global Times reported that parents feel reassured by the health and education authorities' school quarantine procedures.

Chinese medical experts stated, "A strong and solid society-wide epidemic prevention and control mechanism will prevent infections in schools."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.