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

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• Coronavirus lockdown measures have partially or fully closed schools for over 60% 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 countries and provinces that have reopened schools so far.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

As a new academic year begins, schools in parts of the US are reopening, with some leading to new coronavirus outbreaks, Business Insider's Susie Neilson previously reported. Neilson wrote that as of August 6, the US was seeing a weekly average of more than 50,000 cases per day.

Across the globe, countries have reopened schools with coronavirus-era safety measures in place, like wearing masks and social distancing.

Schools are reopening in parts of Europe and Asia, with some dropping social distancing measures that limit full-time schooling like scattered attendance, The Washington Post reported.

While reopened schools have been mostly successful in avoiding any further coronavirus outbreaks among younger students so far, as The Washington Post story stated, doctors and public health officials warn that there is still a lot we don't know about how the virus spreads in schools, and asymptotic children aren't likely to be tested.

While some schools in China began reopening in March, some closed again in June and July amid new outbreaks.

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 reopened for graduating students in early April, according to the South China Morning Post, UNESCO's data shows that most schools remained closed in larger regions. High school seniors in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou 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.

Schools in Beijing closed again in response to another outbreak, The New York Times reported on June 16, after almost two months without any new cases, per U.S. News. Less than a month later, Beijing Municipal Health Commission reported only one new case. The June outbreak consisted of more than 328 new cases and no deaths, TIME reported. 

A month later, Beijing announced when students will return to school, per Xinhua News Agency. High school seniors will begin on August 29, while elementary and middle school students will return on three different dates — August 29, September 1, and September 7. Kindergarteners will go back to school on September 8 and September 11.  

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

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. 

See Also:

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• Sweden's coronavirus death rate is nearly 6 times that of neighboring Norway and Finland. Here's a look at how the countries have approached the coronavirus pandemic differently.
• Empty hotel rooms and canceled festivals: How the coronavirus has devastated tourism in Myrtle Beach, one of the most popular beach towns in the US

SEE ALSO: Photos of Danish children returning to school while staying six feet apart highlight the country's cautious approach to lifting its lockdown measures

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