Hong Kong schools take flu precautions as classes resume after extended Lunar New Year break
One institution has cancelled assemblies and taken records of pupils’ travel history in a bid to prevent further outbreaks
Hong Kong schools have been taking extra precautions against flu, including cancelling assemblies and asking pupils where they have travelled, as most classes resumed on Monday after an extended Lunar New Year holiday.
Pupils at most of the city’s 1,600 kindergartens, primary schools and special needs schools returned to class after an earlier festive break began on February 8, following a rare government decision to try to stop the spread of flu.
Before schools closed, most outbreaks of flu were seen in kindergartens and primary schools.
Concerns persist as Hong Kong schools prepare to reopen after early Lunar New Year break caused by flu spread
Schools have now taken a range of measures to prevent flu cases as pupils return to class.
Cheung Chok-fong, principal of St Patrick’s School, said morning assemblies have been cancelled this week.
“We want to avoid children clustering together[to reduce risk of transmission],” said Cheung, adding the measure had also been in place for a week before the Lunar New Year break began.
Apart from the regular measures of doing temperature checks and asking pupils to wear masks on campus, Cheung said pupils were also required to submit a record of holiday travel to the school for better tracing in case of infection.
