Hong Kong schools, kindergartens closed until at least March 2 as coronavirus fears grow, three universities take similar action
- Education chiefs extend suspension of lessons for at least two more weeks in response to contagion threat, source says
- Baptist, Hong Kong and Polytechnic universities tell students that classes will not be held on campus until early March
The suspension of schools and kindergartens in Hong Kong will be extended for at least two more weeks because of the coronavirus outbreak, the Post has learned.
A government source revealed secondary and primary schools, as well as preschools, would not return from the prolonged break until March 2 at the earliest, as three Hong Kong universities confirmed similar measures.
Baptist University, Polytechnic University and the University of Hong Kong (HKU) wrote to students and staff informing the suspension of classes on campus would now also run until March 2.
Last week, the Hong Kong government said kindergartens and primary and secondary schools would have their breaks extended until February 17, but calls for a further suspension of classes have grown over the past few days.
Apart from extending the school break, top officials were discussing other measures to contain the spread of the virus, including closing more border checkpoints, according to a second source who was familiar with the government's position.