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Plastic partitions, temperature checks, and socially distanced classrooms: how countries are reopening schools following coronavirus closures

Melissa WileyMay 1, 2020, 19:21 IST
Plastic partitions, temperature checks, and socially distanced classrooms: how countries are reopening schools following coronavirus closures

Young pupils gather at the courtyard of their Vikåsen school in Trondheim, Norway, after the school reopened on April 27, 2020.Gorm Kallestad/NTB Scanpix/Getty Images

  • Coronavirus lockdown measures have partially or fully closed schools for over 90% of the world's student population across 186 countries and territories, according to UNESCO.
  • After closing schools to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, a handful of countries like Denmark and Japan have started reopening them.
  • Reopening strategies range from keeping windows open for ventilation to spacing desks six feet apart and resuming classes for students of a certain age.
  • Here's a look at the six countries and provinces that have reopened schools so far.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
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Germany reopened high schools on April 20 to high school seniors.

Germany reopened high schools on April 20 to high school seniors.
Pupils wearing face masks sit in a gymnasium converted into a classroom at the JenaPlan School on April 27, 2020. Bodo Schackow/Picture Alliance/Getty Images

Select high schools across Germany reopened earlier this month so that seniors could take their final exams.

Most schools and daycares across Germany's 16 states have been closed since mid-March during which time the country has achieved "fragile intermediate success" in reducing the spread of the virus, Chancellor Angela Merkel said earlier this month.

As part of Germany's plan to gradually lift its lockdown following, Merkel recommended that schools begin the process of reopening on May 4, giving priority to graduating students.

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Norway began reopening its kindergartens on April 20, followed by primary schools for children in grades 1 through 4 on April 27.

Norway began reopening its kindergartens on April 20, followed by primary schools for children in grades 1 through 4 on April 27.
Young pupils gather at the courtyard of their Vikåsen school in Trondheim, Norway, after the school reopened on April 27, 2020. Gorm Kallestad/NTB Scanpix/Getty Images

Norway closed schools on March 12 and, like Denmark, has sent its youngest students back to class ahead of older pupils due to a decline in the rate of coronavirus transmission.

"Together we have taken control of the virus, therefore we can open up society little by little," Prime Minister Erna Solberg said during a news conference in early April.

To encourage social distancing, the government has urged schools to divide classes into groups of no more than 15 and have children wash their desks daily, among other precautions. Upper schools and universities remain closed until further notice.

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On April 15, Denmark became the first European country on lockdown to reopen its schools, beginning with children in daycare and grades 1 through 5.

On April 15, Denmark became the first European country on lockdown to reopen its schools, beginning with children in daycare and grades 1 through 5.
Parents with their children stand six feet apart while waiting to enter Stengaard School north of Copenhagen, Denmark, on April 15, 2020. Ritzau Scanpix/Bo Amstrup/Reuters

Denmark's youngest students returned to school earlier this month as part of Denmark's plan to gradually reopen the country following a decline in the rate of new infections.

While classes have resumed, schools have placed desks six feet apart and staggered student arrivals, among other measures, in order to adhere to social distancing guidelines still in place.

Denmark announced its first lockdown measures on March 11 before the country reported any coronavirus deaths and closed schools on March 16. For the time being, high schools and universities remain closed.

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Schools in Japan reopened in early April for the new school year.

Schools in Japan reopened in early April for the new school year.
New pupils wearing face masks attend a welcome ceremony while maintaining social distance in Yokohama, Japan, on April 6, 2020. The Asahi Shimbun/Getty Images

On February 27, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe urged elementary, middle, and high schools across Japan to close beginning March 2 until the start of the new school year in early April to prevent the spread of the virus.

Abe did not issue specific guidance for universities, most of which were on spring break as they follow a separate semester system.

On March 24, Japan announced that it would not extend its school closure recommendation, leaving the decision of when and whether or not to reopen to local municipalities based on the number of coronavirus cases in the area. The Ministry of Health also released guidelines for school reopening which include opening windows to ventilate classrooms, maintaining physical distance, checking temperatures daily, and wearing face masks.

"The circumstances of each area is different, and it will be much more effective to judge based on the actual ground situation rather than dictating a policy measure nationwide," Education Minister Koichi Hagiuda told the Straits Times.

To date, about 40% of schools have reopened, according to UNESCO.

This could be due in part to the national state of emergency that Abe announced on April 16 following a rise in new infections. The state of emergency gives leaders of Japan's 47 prefectures, or administrative regions, the authority to request school closures and ask residents to stay home. Abe has indicated that he will extend the state of emergency past its May 6 expiration date, Bloomberg reported.

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Taiwan reopened schools on February 25 after extending winter break by ten days.

Taiwan reopened schools on February 25 after extending winter break by ten days.
Students eat their lunch on desks with plastic partitions at Dajia Elementary School in Taipei, Taiwan, on April 29, 2020. Sam Yeh/Getty Images

After learning of the coronavirus outbreak, Taiwan took swift action to contain its spread.

Taiwan never officially closed schools but did extend winter break by 10 days in February in order to disinfect education facilities, distribute medical supplies, and implement new procedures for schools with confirmed coronavirus cases.

Schools now conduct temperature checks, and some have employed plastic tabletop desk partitions as an added security measure.

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Some schools in China began reopening in March, though many remain closed.

Some schools in China began reopening in March, though many remain closed.
High school seniors wash their hands with hand sanitizer before returning to school in Beijing, China, on April 27, 2020. Costfoto/Barcroft Media/Getty Images

In late January, China instituted a lockdown for the 11 million residents of Wuhan, where the novel coronavirus outbreak originated. Fifteen other cities soon followed, and at its peak, China's quarantine extended to 20 provinces and regions, according to the Wall Street Journal. Due to lockdown measures, some 200 million students transitioned to online learning in February, the Washington Post reported.

On March 18, China reported no new local coronavirus cases for the first time since the outbreak and has gradually lifted restrictions in the weeks since.

While schools in nine mainland provinces had reopened for graduating students as of early April, according to the South China Morning Post, UNESCO's data shows that most schools remain closed in larger regions. High school seniors in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou only just returned to school on April 27 to prepare for their college entrance exams.

BBC reported that China's Ministry of Education is requiring that students have their temperatures checked at school entrances and that they display a "green" code of health via China's smartphone health code program.

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