Hong Kong extends face-to-face school closures until mid-Feb
[HONG KONG] Hong Kong on Monday extended its suspension of face-to-face school classes until mid-February, with the spread of the coronavirus in the Asian financial hub remaining "critical".
Schools in the Chinese territory have been mostly shut for a year, with many having switched to online learning and lessons by conference call.
Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung said all kindergartens and schools would suspend face-to-face teaching until after the Lunar Year Holiday which ends on Feb 15.
Primary and secondary schools can allow some students to return to take exams under strict conditions.
Hong Kong saw a resurgence in the number of cases at the end of November, prompting curbs including shutting down dining in restaurants after 6 pm and closing gyms and beauty salons.
These measures will remain in place for a further two weeks.
GET BT IN YOUR INBOX DAILY
Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.
Densely populated Hong Kong has recorded around 9,000 coronavirus cases and 150 deaths.
REUTERS
BT is now on Telegram!
For daily updates on weekdays and specially selected content for the weekend. Subscribe to t.me/BizTimes
International
Putin plans to meet Xi in China days after his new term starts
Biden vetoes bid to repeal US labour board rule on contract, franchise workers
Economic leaders of South Korea, Japan, China say FX volatility is a risk
US automakers win extension on use of Chinese graphite in EV tax credits
US service sector contracts in April; price pressures up
Thaksin’s daughter calls central bank independence an ‘obstacle’