No Checks On Which Teachers Take Covid Tests: Govt

Education Secretary Kevin Yeung has appealed to all teachers and other staff at primary and secondary schools, and kindergartens to get tested for Covid-19, but says a two-month testing scheme for the education sector will only be voluntary.

He said on Wednesday that a testing agency will distribute specimen bottles and collect saliva samples from teachers and staff from about 50 schools each day.

Yeung said he had met some school principals and they generally support the scheme.

“I encourage all teachers and staff to get tested for Covid-19 as it would make the whole of society feel more relieved. We will know more about the situation in the education sector, which involves a lot of contacts. It can also protect the students,” he said.

“But we don’t have to know whether individual teachers have joined the scheme, or the participation rate of different schools. There’s no pressure,” he said.

He added that the government has no plan to ask schools to resume full-day classes as the SAR is still recording coronavirus cases in the community.

Schools have been running half-day lessons to avoid the need for students to have their lunch together on campus.