Hong Kong kindergartens to close after 179 outbreaks of common cold recorded in city schools
- Two-week shutdown from Saturday is precautionary step during Covid-19 crisis and influenza season, health minister says
- About 100 clusters of upper respiratory tract infections have been found in preschools
Hong Kong kindergartens will close for two weeks from Saturday due to 179 outbreaks of upper respiratory tract infections affecting nearly 2,000 pupils and staff, the government has confirmed.
“There is a wide outbreak of upper respiratory tract infections. Even though we have not found Covid-19 in those infected teachers and students, we are still very concerned about the situation,” she said, explaining the new approach this year to respiratory illnesses such as the common cold.
“Because unfortunately, once there are students who have caught [Covid-19] in kindergartens or childcare centres, there will be a high chance of spread to other pupils, teachers and their families, leading to an extensive outbreak.”
Of the respiratory outbreaks logged in Hong Kong, which mostly involve the common cold, 104 are in kindergartens.
An outbreak of this type is declared in a school when more than three children in a class are recorded as having any infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract, which tend to have similar symptoms to Covid-19.
