Schools in Hebei capital closed due to virus

All kindergarten, primary and middle schools in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province will suspend classes starting Wednesday, the city's education bureau announced Tuesday night, after reports of new local COVID-19 cases for three consecutive days.

For boarding schools, closed-off management also will begin Wednesday. Teachers and other employees in the schools are not allowed to leave after work, the bureau said.

Hebei reported 14 new confirmed coronavirus cases and 30 new asymptomatic carriers on Tuesday, all locally transmitted, bringing the total of recently confirmed cases in the province to 19, according to the provincial health commission.

Among the confirmed cases, 14 are from Shijiazhuang, the provincial capital. The 30 new asymptomatic carriers are all in the city.

Some colleges and universities in the province already have started winter vacation to reduce risks of virus transmission.