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Coronavirus: full-day classes allowed at Hong Kong secondary schools only if 90 per cent of pupils have had third Covid jab

  • Education Bureau sends out circular to schools announcing move to tighten existing two-jab requirement
  • Annual Miss Hong Kong beauty pageant suspended until an undetermined date

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Authorities have ramped up vaccine requirements at schools ahead of the new academic year. Photo: Winson Wong
Hong Kong secondary schools will only be allowed to hold full-day classes on campus if 90 per cent of their students have had three Covid-19 shots, with education authorities tightening the existing two-dose rule and demanding the unvaccinated are “actively” approached to get jabs.
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The same three-jab rule would also apply to secondary and primary school students from October if they hoped to take part in mask-off extracurricular activities, the Education Bureau said in a circular on Tuesday.

The latest requirements were revealed as health officials reported 8,848 new Covid-19 infections on Tuesday, with more major events affected by the recent rise in cases. Broadcaster TVB’s annual Miss Hong Kong beauty pageant was suspended until an undetermined date and a traditional fire dragon dance in Pok Fu Lam scheduled at the Mid-Autumn Festival was cancelled.

It is the first time the Miss Hong Kong contest has been affected by the pandemic. Photo: Yik Yeung-man
It is the first time the Miss Hong Kong contest has been affected by the pandemic. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

As part of the bureau’s latest multipronged approach aimed at “further strengthening the protective shield”, schools will be required to report vaccination rates monthly from September with those attaining 70 per cent or higher recognised on its website.

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