Coronavirus: Hong Kong schools call for clear guidelines on handling students with amber health code under coming new quarantine rule
- Some schools concerned students will not declare their health code status; sectors set up their own guidelines for staff with amber code
- Hong Kong reports 4,593 new Covid-19 infections, including 249 imported ones; four more virus-linked deaths recorded
Some Hong Kong schools are calling for clear guidelines on handling students under home medical surveillance ahead of a new Covid-19 quarantine policy to take effect on Friday.
The concern on Wednesday centred on new quarantine rules for overseas arrivals, which will limit the movements of travellers after their three-day hotel isolation.
Authorities have not specified how schools and employers should treat students and workers who are among returning travellers assigned an amber health code under the new system. Such people are restricted from visiting restaurants and high-risk places.
Dion Chen, chairman of the Hong Kong Direct Subsidy Schools Council, said institutions might not be able to identify students undergoing this phase of the new arrangement, as it depended on whether they declared their status.
“They are not required to scan the ‘Leave Home Safe’ app to enter the school … Is it a hard-and-fast rule that they must report to the school if they have the amber code? This is what we need to consider,” he told a radio programme.
The city on Wednesday reported 4,593 new Covid-19 infections, including 249 imported ones. Four more virus-linked deaths were also recorded. Hong Kong’s total tally now stands at 1,397,920 cases and 9,554 fatalities.