Any Hong Kong school with a student or staff member suspected of
having contracted SARS is required to suspend classes, Secretary
for Education and Manpower Professor Arthur K C Li said Monday.
Speaking during a school visit on the first day of the full
resumption of classes at secondary schools, Li said that for the
past two weeks, the number of SARS patients discharged from
hospital had been much greater than those admitted with the
disease.
"Although it seems that the situation appears to be under control,
we should not let loose our guard and this is why we announced the
new measure today," Li said.
Under the new measure, if a staff member or student of a school is
suspected to have contracted SARS, the school must suspend classes
for 10 days with effect from the first day of sick leave taken by
the patient.
If
the suspected case turns out not to be SARS, the Department of
Health (DH) will inform the Bureau to arrange resumption of classes
as soon as practicable.
Also, if any family member or person in close contact with a staff
member or student is suspected to have contracted the virus, the
staff member or student must stay away from school for home
confinement or home observation for 10 days.
The home confinement or home observation will finish as soon as DH
confirms that the suspected case is not SARS.
Li
also appealed to parents to join hands to overcome the disease.
In
addition to taking their children's temperature, parents should
emphasize the importance of personal hygiene to their children,
such as washing hands frequently, and preparing face masks and
tissue paper, he said.
The Education and Manpower Bureau will continue to monitor the
situation on a daily basis and announce class resumption
arrangements for primary schools, special schools and kindergartens
at a later date.
(Xinhua News Agency April 29, 2003)
