Schools surprised by students during flu shutdown

Hong Kong schools have been surprised by parents dropping off their children despite classes being cancelled due to the influenza outbreak

While the government ordered the city’s 1,600 kindergartens, primary schools and special needs schools to close, some schools were asked to remain open to cater for children in need of care.

Yesterday, some principals were caught off guard when some parents seized on the opportunity to drop their children off at these schools, saying they had no option as their plans had been thrown into disarray by the government’s announcement.

Data released by the Centre for Health Protection released showed between January 7 and February 7, there were 421 flu outbreaks at the city’s institutions, affecting 2,740 people, mostly children. 

Of these outbreaks, 348 were in kindergartens and primary schools. So far 13 children have been hit by severe flu requiring hospital admission, and two of them have died.

A total of 214 adults suffered from severe flu. Among them, 121 people died.

Education sector lawmaker, Ip Kin-yuen, has called on the government to improve its communication system regarding school closures as many schools were unable to obtain accurate information from education offices, even after the announcement.

However, Yeung said he did not think communication was chaotic after the decision was announced.

“After the government’s announcement at 10.30am, we have already issued notices to schools within a short period of time,” the South China Morning Post reported Yeung as saying.

“It would take time for us to implement all details. We would see if there is any room for improvement.”

Yeung added that the first day of the early holiday Thursday for schoolchildren saw “smooth” overall operation of schools.