A 12th grader is vaccinated against COVID-19 in Kiên Giang Province. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀNỘI — The Ministry of Health has asked localities to review and  instruct all schools to build flexible and safe COVID-19 prevention and control plans to allow children to go back to class.

The move follows Government Resolution No 128.

The information was revealed at a workshop co-hosted by the ministries of health and education on Monday to ensure safety and pandemic prevention and control at education facilities.

Under current regulations, schools in areas at level 1 (low-risk) will be allowed to resume in-person studying and schools in areas at level 2 (medium-risk) could organise in-person studying normally or with restriction while in-person studying in areas at level 3 (high risk) will be limited and schools in areas at level 4 (very high risk) must remain closed.

The Ministry of Education and Training has guided localities to supplement medical resources for schools to ensure pandemic prevention and control tasks and vaccine administration for students.

The conference focused on three main subjects: students’ vaccination, implementing the “5K rules” in classes and responsive measures in the case of discovering an infection in education facilities.

Deputy Minister of Health Đỗ Xuân Tuyên said schools must prepare pandemic prevention and control plans and increase information dissemination to raise parents' awareness of COVID-19 vaccinations for children. Students were advised to wear masks and ensure social distancing when they return to class.

The Ministry of Education and Training reported that more than 47,490 students and teachers nationwide were infected with COVID-19 during the fourth wave.

At present, schools in 28 provinces and cities have resumed operations while students in 35 other provinces and cities are still studying online.

Some localities have vaccinated students aged 12-17, including HCM City, Bình Dương, Ninh Bình and Quảng Ninh. Other localities planned to reopen schools in low-risk districts and communes from November 15.

However, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Ngô Thị Minh said due to complicated development of the pandemic, some provinces and cities had to adjust their plans to reopen. Some provinces like Phú Thọ and Thanh Hóa must stop in-person studying due to new outbreaks found at schools. — VNS