Hong Kong suspends face-to-face classes amid worsening epidemic

HONG KONG - Face-to-face classes for grade 1-3 primary school students will be suspended from Nov 23 to Dec 6 as the COVID-19 situation in Hong Kong has worsened rapidly, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said.

Hong Kong reported another 26 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Friday, including 21 local infections, and more than 30 preliminary confirmed cases, said Sophia Chan, secretary for food and health of the HKSAR government.

The outbreaks of upper respiratory tract infections have been reported in quite many primary schools and kindergartens over the recent weeks. Chan pointed out that the transmission routes of upper respiratory tract infections and COVID-19 are similar, and if COVID-19 spreads at schools, the risk posed to the community is very high.

If the situation worsens, face-to-face classes for other grades will also be suspended, she added, appealing to the public to be extra vigilant against the virus and avoid unnecessary gatherings.

Chan said people having symptoms, taxi drivers and care home workers will be arranged to take compulsory tests as soon as possible. The government is also adding mobile sampling kiosks and dispatching more sampling bottles to residents in buildings and communities with relatively more confirmed cases.