WUHAN (CHINA) – There was much excitement when schools reopened in Wuhan, China, after seven months. But parents and teachers warn that the slump in the number of coronavirus cases does not mean that one can let down the guard.
On Tuesday, authorities in the Central China city, allowed more than than 2,800 educational institutions to open their doors to nearly 1.4 million students. The city was where the coronavirus was first reported.
Life appears to be normal once again outside the Wuluo Road elementary school with vehicles carrying students clogging the streets and breakfast stalls and convenience stores doing roaring business.
“During the epidemic, the kids were at home for more than half a year and in all aspects couldn’t study as well as they could at school,” said Wei Fanling, a parent, adding that she was relieved her 12-year-old son could return to class.
“Though this epidemic is over, we still cannot take it easy,” she said.
Educational institutions are taking all precautions, including subjecting children to regular temperature checks.
The authorities have advised parents to avoid public transport as much as possible, resulting in half-empty buses plying on the streets. Most of the students were driven to school in private cars and on electric scooters.
Wuhan University, which is already open and gearing up to welcome a new batch of students, has sealed off its campus to block outsiders from entering.
Students will be tested before they are allowed back and those coming from foreign countries will be asked to undergo quarantine for 14 days.