Grade 1-6 students to return to school in suburban Hanoi

Accordingly, except for areas with "high" or "very high" Covid risks, students from grades 1 to 6 in 18 suburban districts will begin in-person classes from next Thursday. The surburban districts are Ba Vi, Chuong My, Dan Phuong, Dong Anh, Gia Lam, Hoai Duc, Me Linh, My Duc, Phu Xuyen, Phuc Tho, Quoc Oai, Soc Son, Son Tay, Thach That, Thanh Oai, Thanh Tri, Thuong Tin and Ung Hoa.

Students of grades 1 to 6 in 12 central districts will continue to study online, and preschool children will stay home.

Tran The Cuong, director of Hanoi's Department of Education and Training, said he wants parents and students to support schools by seriously following Covid prevention measures to ensure student safety.

According to the latest Covid risk evaluation, Hanoi now has nine communes and wards deemed at a "high" risk level, while the rest are considered at "low" or "medium" risk.

Schools must meet safety standards approved by the municipal Department of Education and Training and Department of Health to welcome back students. Only teachers who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 can lead in-person classes.

The city requires schools not to conduct day-boarding services or open canteens and only teach one session (morning or afternoon) per day.

If a Covid patient is detected, schools should proactively handle the situation. The district-level Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control would be responsible for assessing and deciding whether to continue in-person learning or not.

As of Saturday, the capital has recorded more than 145,000 Covid cases since last April, when the fourth coronavirus wave resurfaced.

Previously, on Jan. 24, Hanoi People's Committee had decided to allow students from grades 7 to 12 to return to school from Feb. 8.

On Feb. 3, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son said it had drastically directed and guided localities to bring students back to school after Tet.

All 63 provinces and cities let high school students go to school from Feb. 7 or 14. A total 60 provinces and cities, aside from Hanoi and the southern Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces, have scheduled in-person classes for all primary and preschool students in Feb.