#14,944
One of the things we are learning about slowing the spread of COVID-19 is that many of the mitigations that have been previously dismissed as impractical, or even detrimental, are actually working.
Since COVID-19 emerged, the world has essentially ignored the conventional wisdom against travel bans, airport screenings, school closures, and quarantines - and while the results haven't been pretty - they have been effective.Despite being presumably at greatest risk of seeing a major epidemic, Hong Kong - by taking strong preventative actions - has (so far) managed to keep community spread of the virus reasonably under control. That may not last forever, but it has been an impressive accomplishment.
In addition to closing public venues like museums, restaurants, sporting events, and many government offices, Hong Kong closed their schools more than a month ago, and today announced their intention to keep them closed until after the spring break.
School resumes as early as April 20
February 25, 2020
(You can watch a sign language translation video for the entire press conference here .)
The director of the Education Bureau, Yang Runxiong, said that the outbreak of the new coronavirus has not shown any obvious signs of decline. The Education Bureau has decided to further extend the suspension of schools in Hong Kong until the end of the Easter holiday, and resume classes as early as April 20.
Yang Runxiong said at a press conference today that he understands that many students want to go back to school as soon as possible to take classes with their classmates. Some parents are also worried that their children's studies will be affected. Since both the World Health Organization and virus experts expect the epidemic to continue for some time, continuing suspension is currently the safest and best way to ensure the health of students, and he hopes everyone will understand.
He said that it is true that the resumption date still needs further evaluation. The Bureau will continue to listen to medical opinions and follow up the school preparations and supply of epidemic prevention materials. The resumption date will be formally decided when all conditions are sufficient. The authority prefers to resume classes in stages by then, and will also draw up relevant arrangements and notify the school as soon as possible to allow all stakeholders to prepare early.
Talking about summer vacation arrangements, Yang Runxiong said that, in general, schools have implemented orderly suspensions through different programs. The Bureau understands that home-based learning cannot completely replace classroom learning, and believes that schools will adjust teaching arrangements after resumption, including reorganization activities and Make-up lessons are committed to maintaining student progress. In principle, schools do not need to change the original summer vacation arrangements.
He pointed out that if individual schools considered it necessary, they could make up classes for individual students according to their school-based situation and the needs of parents and students.
Over the past 15 years we've seen arguments both for and against the extended closure of schools during an epidemic. In last November's The WHO NPI Guidance : Social Distancing it isn't until we reach a high severity pandemic that the WHO recommends the closing of schools.
Hong Kong pulled the trigger when they had fewer than 30 cases of COVID-19, and while still only in double digits, they are doubling down on the policy.While the economic and societal costs of the extreme measures we are seeing will have to be carefully examined after the pandemic, for now, they seem to be making a difference.
