Schools in Hà Nội have been closed since May 2021. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Students from grades 7 to 12 in Hà Nội’s COVID-19 low and medium risk areas (labelled green and yellow) will return to school on February 8, after eight months of online learning.

Local authorities asked schools to suspend opening canteens or offering day-boarding meals.

Schools must ensure safety measures with all teachers being vaccinated.

If any positive cases are detected, the school management boards must report it.

COVID-19 steering committees at district level will decide whether in-person learning will continue or not.

Primary school students and sixth graders in the city will continue to learn online.

Those in 7th to 12th grade at schools located in high risk and very high risk areas (labelled orange and red) will continue online classes.

According to the latest COVID-19 risk level assessment, four districts in Hà Nội are classified at level 3 (high risk/orange): Gia Lâm, Nam Từ Liêm, Hoàng Mai and Chương Mỹ.

Other districts are at level 2 (medium risk/yellow).

According to the city’s Department of Health, as of January 20, about 99.7 per cent of children aged between 12 and 14 have been inoculated with the first vaccine doses.

More than 99 per cent of those aged from 15 to 17 have been administered with the first jabs.

Schools in Hà Nội have been closed since May 2021 when the fourth wave of COVID-19 broke out.

In early November, students in some suburban districts returned to school.

In early December, 12th graders returned to schools but classes have closed many times due to the pandemic resurgence.

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính last week ordered local authorities, especially localities with high vaccination rate for children aged between 12 and 17, to organise in-person classes for students aged 12 and above as soon as possible after the Lunar New Year holiday. — VNS