Schoolchildren will not go to school for another week. Photo: Zing

Vietnam continues closing all school for one more week, lengthening the closure to a third consecutive week in an effort to prevent the spreading of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)-caused respiratory sickness.

As many as 56 out of 63 cities and provinces nationwide decided to close schools until the end of February.

The southern metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City plans to close schools until the end of March.

Vietnam has more than 24 million schoolchildren.

In another move, Minister of Education and Training Phung Xuan Nha on February 14 proposed forced school break to be extended until the end of February on fears of the COVID-19 epidemic.

The ministry has also planned to stretch out the academic year to ensure the teaching program.

Meanwhile, a number of schools have launched online teaching to ensure the progress of the curriculum.

Closing schools is one of measures that Vietnam has taken so far together with quarantining people at risk of COVID-19 infection, denying visitors from and traveling across China.

Especially, the country has quarantined a commune of more than 10,000 people in the northern province of Vinh Phuc for having several people infected with COVID-19.

So far, COVID-19 cases have been reported in four cities and provinces across Vietnam, namely Vinh Phuc with 11, Ho Chi Minh City with 3, the central province of Khanh Hoa 1, and the central province of Thanh Hoa 1. Seven of the infected people have recovered and been discharged from hospital. Hanoitimes

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