Back to class: Centre for Health Protection Controller Dr Thomas Tsang and Secretary for Education Michael Suen explain the school resumption arrangements.

Kindergartens, primary schools and special schools will resume classes from March 31 or the school day after their prearranged Easter break, whichever is later, Secretary for Education Michael Suen says.

Speaking at a press conference today, Mr Suen said the class-resumption decision was made after considering the latest flu figures and medical analysis.

The Centre for Health Protection Controller Dr Thomas Tsang said the number of flu cases dropped over the Easter holidays and the centre has found no genetic changes of the flu virus.

The number of children being admitted to hospital with flu-related complications in the recent weeks is about the same as in past years. Therefore the centre believed it is appropriate for schools to resume classes.

The Education Bureau will send letters today to brief schools on the class-resumption arrangements and issue guidelines on preventing the spread of flu in schools.

Clear guidelines

Before class resumption, schools must thoroughly clean and disinfect their campus and provide clear flu information to staff and parents. When classes resume, schools should take prevention measures, observe the health condition of students and staff recovering from flu, and keep sick leave records.

Schools should make appropriate arrangements for examinations or activities originally scheduled to be held during the advanced Easter holidays. If students are absent from school due to sickness, schools should provide learning support.

Parents should check their children's body temperature and sign the record forms before students go to school. Children with flu symptoms should stay at home while those with fever should not go to school until their symptoms have subsided for at least two days.

Parents should inform schools if their children have been admitted to hospitals. If students fall sick during class, their parents should be informed at once so they can pick up their children and seek medical treatment.

Class suspension

On future class-suspension arrangements, Mr Suen said the Education Bureau will assess the situation with the Department of Health if an individual district or neighboring region has a cluster of serious flu cases.

Parents and schools will be given adequate prior notice, he said, adding class-suspension announcements will be made during the daytime.

If flu outbreaks are detected in individual schools, the bureau will assess the situation with the department to determine whether those schools should suspend classes. They will consider a number of factors, including:

* the number of students in the schools with flu symptoms;

* whether more than 1% of a school's students have been admitted to hospital for flu-like illness; and

* whether there are children being admitted to intensive care with serious flu-related complications.  

Future outlook

Noting the flu season is still at its peak, Dr Tsang expected there will be a few reports of minor flu outbreaks in schools after classes resume.

He noted the expert group that is probing the deaths of three children who had flu-like symptoms is drafting a report and results will be announced later.

When asked whether children under 12 will be given free flu vaccines, the controller said the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Disease is studying the issue.

Secretary for Food & Health Dr York Chow thanked schools and parents for their support and understanding of the Government's decision to advance the Easter break of primary schools, kindergartens, child care centres and special schools to prevent the spread of flu in schools.

"The Government, schools and parents should stay alert to influenza after resumption of classes as we are still in the peak season. The Government will continue to monitor the latest influenza situation," Dr Chow said.