Numerous Vietnamese students begin stay home over latest Covid-19 outbreak

Ten cities and provinces across Vietnam have decided to close schools from May 4 in order to curb the infection of novel coronavirus-caused respiratory sickness.

The closure, ranging from kindergarten to universities, was made as the national holiday of National Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day ended on May 3.

More localities are expected to follow this decision. The move would help protect students' health and limit large gatherings.

Many localities in Vietnam close schools on fears of coronavirus. Photo: Hung Nam

Major cities namely Hanoi, Danang, and coronavirus-hit provinces including Ha Nam, Vinh Phuc, Hung Yen are in the list of localities allowing schoolchildren to stay at home as the outbreak has caused 36 infections in the country.

Hanoi alone will also shut down all schools, around two million students from kindergarten to university levels have switched to online study.

Distance learning would be in place, the city’s Department of Education and Training said Monday. Foreign language teaching centers and foreign-invested training institutions also have to suspend classes, it added.

For kindergarteners whose online classes are not an option, schools may apply other technologies and collaborate with teachers and parents to look after the children.

The decision was made following the detection of three community transmission cases in Hanoi, which stemmed from a coronavirus outbreak in the northern province of Ha Nam, coupled with the fact that a large number of people would return to the city after a four-day holiday.

During a coronavirus outbreak last year, all Vietnamese students were locked out of school and study online for nearly three months.

Vietnam has more than 24 million of students. The school year in Vietnam begins in September and ends in May and June of the next year.

Since April 29, Vietnam has recorded 36 community transmission cases in Ha Nam, Hanoi, Hung Yen, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Vinh Phuc, following over a month with no community transmission.

At the time of writing, the total coronavirus patients in Vietnam stands at 2,985, with 35 deaths.