Hong Kong schools to resume classes on schedule as flu crisis shows signs of easing

Food and health minister says the emergency measure to close schools has led to fewer cases of the illness

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Schools have been closed since February 8. Photo: David Wong

Published: 8:30pm, 16 Feb 2018Updated: 10:20pm, 16 Feb 2018

Classes will resume at Hong Kong schools according to original schedules for kindergarten and primary school pupils, the food and health minister said on Friday, as local paediatricians credited early closures for helping to mitigate a flu outbreak that killed scores of people.

Sophia Chan Siu-chee’s comments came more than a week after the government decided to shut the city’s 1,600 kindergartens, primary and special-needs schools from February 8, bringing forward their Lunar New Year holiday to stem the spread of the flu outbreak.

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The festive break typically lasts about two weeks, but with exact days off varying among schools. Most schools were expected to resume classes on Monday, February 26.

The sudden announcement to close schools early left many parents upset about having to scramble to make alternative childcare arrangements.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Chan said the current plan was for classes to resume according to schools’ original schedules.

The flu has killed 174 people since January 7. Photo: Reuters

“I went to a hospital on Thursday to understand the situation and there were paediatricians telling me that after the implementation of the early school holiday measure, they immediately felt the number of admissions had reduced,” she said.