MOE issues notice on school resumption and COVID-19 prevention for 2020 fall semester

The MOE has just issued the Notice on School Resumption and COVID-19 Prevention and Control in the 2020 Fall Semester.

The Notice requires teaching establishments of all levels across the country to recognize the significance of complete school resumption for social and economic development, and to formulate specific preparatory plans for school reopening in accordance with the technical plans jointly released by the MOE and National Health Commission (NHC) for kindergartens and primary, secondary and tertiary education institutions in consideration of actual local conditions.

The Notice stresses the need to ensure strict campus management amid the COVID-19 pandemic: a) Prior to reopening, schools must set up prevention and control mechanisms, maintain an adequate stock of PPE supplies, improve campus sanitation, and keep a record of students’ travel histories as they return to school; b) Once the new semester has begun, establishments must reinforce management of high risk areas such as classrooms, canteens, dormitories and laboratories, and put in place emergency response mechanisms for suspected cases (especially people from overseas hard-hit countries, asymptomatic cases, and those with a travel history in high risk cities in China), and prepare for a potential surge in cases of various infectious diseases in the coming fall and winter. The Notice also highlights the importance of emergency drills and the establishment of a dedicated emergency response team.

In addition, the Notice also calls for strong leadership at school level, requiring heads of educational institutions to rise to the challenges that lie ahead and give effective guidance on all prevention-related matters.