Many schools across Da Nang are now on track to resume its operating functions following many months of temporarily serving as concentrated quarantine establishments dedicated to close COVID-19 contacts as per request of the local authorities. The cleanups and disinfection of these schools are underway in a prompt fashion for the time being in at timely preparation for welcoming pupils back in the time ahead.

Functional forces move items in service for medical quarantine out of theBe Van Dan Primary School, An Khe Ward, Thanh Khe District in preparation for the resumption of on-campus schooling. Photo: NGOC HA

The Be Van Dan Primary School, located An Khe Ward, Thanh Khe District, currently one of the ‘green districts’ with a low coronavirus infection risk in Da Nang, was once temporarily used as a shelter housing many evacuees from a high-risk alley linked to COVID-19 cases in Tam Thuan Ward from September 4.

On September 18, functional forces conducted the cleanups and disinfection of the entire campus, classrooms, desks and chairs, and equipment in service for teaching and learning activities with Chloramin B so that pupils could be back school for study with peace of mind.

Likewise, Son Tra District-based Ngo Gia Tu Primary School was also temporarily used as a COVID-19 quarantine site from May. Mr. Le Cong Hien, a school teacher, acted as a volunteer participant in pandemic prevention and control missions at the site.

"All facilities of the school have returned to their original status and academic functions, Focus is now placed on ensuring the ultimate safety for its staffers, teachers and pupils once they come back here for academic purposes”, Hien said.

In a similar vein, the Phan Chau Trinh Senior High School, located in the city centre, also acted as a designated quarantine area for local primary COVID-19 contacts from August 22 to September 16.

Upon the stopping of receiving close coronavirus contacts, functional forces moved all items and equipment in service for medical quarantine out of this school in preparation for the resumption of on-campus schooling halted due to the coronavirus outbreak across the city. Afterwards, the cleanups and disinfections were deployed in a rush.

According to the Da Nang Department of Education and Training over the past time, 26 local schools, mainly in Hai Chau, Son Tra, and Thanh Khe districts, have been temporarily used as designated medical quarantine areas and safety shelters dedicated to residents who were evacuated from populous neighbourhoods with a high risk of COVID-19 spread.  

In order to ensure the good preparation for the new school year, all local primary COVID-19 contacts fulfilling their mandatory quarantine at the above-mentioned schools have been relocated to other designated sites.

Up to now, all schools in Son Tra and Ngu Hanh Son districts have resumed their academic operation for their pupils’ comebacks.

Mr Mai Tan Linh, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Education and Training, said that this agency will inspect the cleanups and infections of these aforementioned schools in preparation for their upcoming re-opening to pupils.

Reporting by NGOC HA – Translating by A.T