Though international travel has been out of the question for most families this summer, domestic travel has still been on the table. Trips to sunny beach destinations like Sanya have been a popular choice for Beijing’s families.
But this past week, things seem to be taking a different turn, in what feels like a flashback to the early stages of the pandemic.
Amid the reports of the latest COVID-19 outbreak in Beijing, schools have begun notifying parents of delayed returns to school. As Jingkids reported on Monday, various international schools in Beijing have already issued notices to families that the starting date of the new school year will be pushed back to Sep 1. This is partly due to the latest spike in COVID-19 cases, but it is also due to the newly enforced government mandate to standardize school starting dates.
Several well-placed school personnel also informed us yesterday that the Beijing Education Commission is now requiring all faculty, staff, and students at all of the city’s schools to be present in Beijing for at least 21 days before being allowed on campus.
This is similar to a notice that was issued in the spring, but those previous precautionary measures only applied to teachers and staff. This latest meeting emphasized that the requirement to be present in Beijing prior to the start of school will apply to all members of the school, including students.
It is currently unclear if this is a blanket regulation for all schools at all grade levels. Some school communities say they’ve been told they only need to be present in Beijing for 14 days prior to the start of school.
Given that most schools are now targeting a start date of September 1, a 21-day requirement means those outside the city need to return to Beijing no later than August 11, five days from now.
Given how rapidly the situation is changing, we recommend everyone return to Beijing by Aug 11, even if you have not been specifically requested to. Better safe than sorry.
In addition, yesterday (Aug 5), a list of airports was published that require COVID-19 testing within 48 hours of flying to Beijing. As of today, the current list includes airports in Sanya, Changde, Zhangjiajie, Changsha, Zhuhai, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Haikou, Yinchuan, Dehong, Xiamen, Nanjing, Shanghai Pudong, Huai’an, Wuhu, Wuxi, Yangzhou, Yantai, Chongqing, Luzhou, Mianyang, Chengdu Tianfu, Chengdu Shuangliu, Yibin, Dalian, and Shenyang.
Currently, Beijing has not implemented mandatory social distancing measures like back in 2020. But we’d like to remind you to please stay safe. Get vaccinated if you haven’t done so already. The Beijinger has published a list of hospitals in Chaoyang where you can get the jab and will add a list of where to get vaccinated in other districts today. Continue to wear your masks and socially distance as much as possible for your own safety and for the safety of your loved ones and friends.
KEEP READING: Beijing International Schools Delay Start Dates Amid COVID Concerns
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