About 10,000 schools resumed on-site classroom teaching on Monday, with the government giving an assurance students will not face across-the-board or regular antigen tests for Covid-19.

Deputy Education Minister Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich said about 10,000 schools reopened for most normal activities, with about 20,000 others to restart classes before the end of the month.

Those that had already opened were small schools and boarding schools, she said.

Apisamai Srirangson, spokeswoman for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, said students would not face across-the-board or regular antigen tests for Covid-19.

Testing would be only for students whose family members were found to be infected with Covid-19.  Students who were in close contact with Covid-19 cases would have to complete 14 days home quarantine, Dr Apisamai said.

She asked teachers and parents to assess their infection risk if, for example, they had respiratory symptoms or a fever or were in close contact with a Covid-19 case.

For classroom teaching, schools must have proper spacing between desks, ensure students study in well ventilated areas, and suspend sports or other activities that would gather many people together, Dr Apisamai said.

If there was an infection at a school the management would not have to close the whole school, only the classes affected, she said.

Source: Bangkok Post