Schools in Wuhan reopen for first time since coronavirus outbreak

Imogen Braddick6 May 2020

The first cohort of children are returning to school in Wuhan, China, where the first case of the new coronavirus was reported late last year.

Students in grade 12 and 9 at high schools in the Hubei province were allowed to return to class on Wednesday to study for upcoming exams in the summer.

Most grade 12 students already returned to school in March in other parts of the country.

All students returning to class had to do a coronavirus test and there will be measures to ensure social distancing, such as partitions in the school canteen, according to state media.

Wuhan students return to school after Coronavirus

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Teenagers will have their temperature checked before going into school, and sit one metre apart from other students.

Other measures to ensure students could return safely include smaller class sizes and staggered arrival times, according to China Daily.

Return dates have not yet been confirmed for junior and middle school students.

Wuhan lifts Coronavirus lockdown - In pictures

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It comes as health officials in China said it has been three weeks since any new deaths have been reported in the country where the pandemic began in December.

Just one new infection has been confirmed, and fewer than 400 patients are still being treated for Covid-19.

Extra measures will be in place such as temperature screening and social distancing in the canteen
AFP via Getty Images

The country's major cities are gradually returning to normal after imposing strict travel restrictions to control the spread of the virus.

On Tuesday, Liu Xiaoming, China's ambassador to the UK, said China has the Covid-19 outbreak "under control" and said the economy is showing a "steady momentum of recovery".

The Forbidden City in Beijing has reopened
AP

"China will continue to be the factory and the market of the world," he said. "China will remain an important powerhouse for world economic growth."

Shanghai Disneyland will reopen next week, the company announced on Tuesday, with enhanced safety measures including temperature checks and social distancing.

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