Beijing is set to gradually resume in-school classes of primary and secondary schools in an orderly manner from June 1, China's Children's day, the capital's health authority announced. Closed management and big-data reporting systems will be crucial as the forthcoming classes are resumed.
Big data systems for health status and contact risk information will play a significant role in the resumption of in-school classes. According to authorities' requirements, schools must report students' health status three times a day into a system connected to Beijing's center for disease prevention and control.
Another health status reporting system for family members is also being set up. If suspicious symptoms such as fever occur, students' parents should immediately report to school and promptly go to hospital. Schools have also been asked to urge students' parents not to leave Beijing unless absolutely necessary.
To make sure that the close contacts are traceable, schools in Beijing will implement closed-off management, which means that anyone entering school must undergo an identity check and temperature monitoring. Non-essential personnel will not be allowed to enter the campus.
Beijing's education regulators said the class times each day must not be earlier than 8 am, while grades and classes should avoid peak congestion when arriving and leaving schools.
All students and teachers are also required to wear masks during class, but can take them off when doing outdoor sports while observing proper social distancing. Security guards, cleaners and canteen staff must wear masks at school.
However, mass-gathering events and activities are prohibited.