STUDENTS in areas with low risks of infection of the novel coronavirus are not required to wear masks at school as many local governments are stepping up efforts to reopen classrooms, according to a notice Friday.

The notice, released by the National Health Commission and the Ministry of Education, focuses on control and prevention of COVID-19 at kindergartens, elementary, junior and senior high schools.

The notice came after the death of a 15-year-old junior high student who collapsed and died from wearing a mask while running during a PE class in Dancheng County, Henan Province, on April 24.

The student’s father claimed that his son may have died because he was wearing a mask while running, though the cause was left unsettled, according to a report.

In late April, some provinces and cities such as Hainan, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Xiamen launched guidelines saying that students don’t need to wear masks during outdoor sports.

Friday’s notice stressed that schools should also guide students to properly wear masks on campus, though students in low-risk areas are not required to wear them.

According to the notice, staff and students should report their health conditions and whereabouts over the last 14 days to the school before returning to campus. Also, schools are required to urge people with symptoms, including fever, fatigue, dry cough or diarrhea, to seek medical help.

Students and staff are not allowed to have lessons or give lectures when having these symptoms, the notice said.

Schools are also required to prevent crowding and ensure social distancing.

(China Daily)