On August 23, the Hunan Provincial Department of Education issued a master plan for COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control in primary and secondary schools, kindergartens, and colleges and universities for the autumn semester of 2021. It aimed to ensure schools open in a safe and orderly manner.

The plan requires that primary and secondary schools, kindergartens, and colleges and universities should not open before September 1. In cities and prefecture without medium- and high-risk areas, primary and secondary schools, kindergartens, and colleges and universities can start school from September 1. In cities and prefecture with medium-and high-risk areas, primary and secondary schools, kindergartens, and colleges and universities should postpone the opening time and will reopen after the whole region is downgraded to low-risk level. Primary and secondary schools, kindergartens, and colleges and universities are not allowed to open if they could not meet the local epidemic prevention and control requirements and fail to implement strict anti-virus measures and put emergency plans and drills in place.

Education bureaus at various levels as well as primary and secondary schools, kindergartens, and colleges and universities should formulate work plans for the start of schools and detail epidemic prevention and control measures. It is necessary to comprehensively investigate the travel history and health conditions of all teachers, students, staff and their co-resident family members 14 days before the start of the autumn semester, check the vaccination status of teachers, students and staff, and urge all faculties and students aged 12 and above eligible for vaccination have access to it.

Schools should reopen on a staggered schedule.

The plan clarifies the registration requirements for teachers and students. Teachers, students, and staffers who are from the city where there are no medium- and high-risk areas, and who have no travel history related to these areas 14 days before the start of school, could enter the school with green health QR code and the 14-day self-monitoring report. Those who are from a city with medium- and high-risk areas, holds a yellow or red heath QR code, have suspected symptoms such as fever, dry cough, fatigue, sore throat, loss in sense of smell or taste, and diarrhea, and have been infected since this July should postpone the date to school.  

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn. 

Translator: Xiao Juan

Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn