Parents Taking Kids Out Of School Amid Covid Surge

Many worried parents are stopping their children from going to schools amid a surge of local Covid-19 cases, though the government has yet to announce the suspension of classes.

Most of the schools in Hong Kong are scheduled to start their weeks-long summer break by end of this month.

Schools had reopened gradually from May after months of suspension since the outbreak first started in January, but dozens of local Covid-19 cases have reemerged in recent days, with many of the new patients infected via unknown sources.

A primary school teacher, surnamed Lam, said about two or three students each class at her school have already stopped showing up.

She said her school understood parents’ concerns, and that it had already told parents they could let their children stay at home if they wish.

"Parents are very worried, especially those with younger children," Lam said.

Kat Cheung, whose son is in primary two, said she’s very worried, and that might play safe and keep her child at home, even though there are still two weeks of lessons before the summer holiday.

“It’s problematic if the virus gets to schools. It’ll be spread quickly among students,” she said.

“I’ll keep monitoring the situation these two days and it’s very likely that I won’t let my son go to school from next week,” she said.

There’s a similar sentiment on an online parents’ forum.

A parent with a primary one child said she would not let him go to school from next week.

“I think it’s safer if classes are suspended. Some of my son’s classmates have already stopped going to school. It’s almost the summer holiday anyway,” she said.