Most children in Beijing will not return to school next week as originally planned, Chinese officials said on Saturday, after an emerging COVID-19 outbreak prompted authorities to partly reverse a decision to resume in-person teaching.

China is the last major economy still committed to a zero-Covid strategy, stamping out new cases with a combination of targeted lockdowns, mass testing and lengthy quarantines.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/shanghai-kicks-off-new-round-of-mass-covid-testing-beijing-cases-jump-487185">Shanghai kicks off new round of mass Covid testing, Beijing cases jump</a>

But virus clusters in recent months have put that approach under strain. The megacity of Shanghai was forced into a gruelling months-long lockdown and in the capital Beijing, schools were shuttered and residents were ordered to work from home.&nbsp;

Authorities in Beijing eased many curbs earlier this week, but dozens of infections linked to a bar have led authorities to tighten some restrictions again.

Most primary and middle school students will "continue to study online at home" from Monday, city government spokesperson Xu Hejian said at a press briefing on Saturday.

Watch |&nbsp;COVID woes worsen in China: World Bank cuts COVID growth forecast

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The announcement partly walked back a previous decision to send younger pupils back to school in phases, starting next week.

Some 115 cases have been linked to the bar cluster so far, municipal health official Liu Xiaofeng said at the briefing.

The new outbreak was "at a rapidly developing stage ... and at a relatively high risk of spreading", Liu said.

More than 20 million people in Shanghai began a mass testing drive on Saturday that local governments said would take place under temporary lockdown conditions.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/covid-restrictions-return-to-shanghai-xi-jinping-says-persistence-is-victory-486990">Covid restrictions return to Shanghai, Xi Jinping says ‘persistence is victory’</a>

The move comes less than two weeks after the eastern economic hub lurched out of a harsh lockdown that was punctuated by food shortages and isolated protests from irate residents.

Officials have maintained a shifting patchwork of restrictions in Shanghai, wary of a virus resurgence after finally containing the country's worst outbreak in two years.

China recorded 138 domestic infections on Saturday, including 61 in Beijing and 16 in Shanghai, according to the National Health Commission.

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Most children in Beijing will not return to school next week as originally planned, Chinese officials said on Saturday, after an emerging COVID-19 outbreak prompted authorities to partly reverse a decision to resume in-person teaching.

Most children in Beijing will not return to school next week as originally planned, Chinese officials said on Saturday, after an emerging COVID-19 outbreak prompted authorities to partly reverse a decision to resume in-person teaching. China is the last major economy still committed to a zero-Covid strategy, stamping out new cases with a combination of targeted lockdowns, mass testing and lengthy quarantines. Also read | Shanghai kicks off new round of mass Covid testing, Beijing cases jump But virus clusters in recent months have put that approach under strain. The megacity of Shanghai was forced into a gruelling months-long lockdown and in the capital Beijing, schools were shuttered and residents were ordered to work from home. Authorities in Beijing eased many curbs earlier this week, but dozens of infections linked to a bar have led authorities to tighten some restrictions again. Most primary and middle school students will "continue to study online at home" from Monday, city government spokesperson Xu Hejian said at a press briefing on Saturday. Watch | COVID woes worsen in China: World Bank cuts COVID growth forecast The announcement partly walked back a previous decision to send younger pupils back to school in phases, starting next week. Some 115 cases have been linked to the bar cluster so far, municipal health official Liu Xiaofeng said at the briefing. The new outbreak was "at a rapidly developing stage ... and at a relatively high risk of spreading", Liu said. More than 20 million people in Shanghai began a mass testing drive on Saturday that local governments said would take place under temporary lockdown conditions. Also read | Covid restrictions return to Shanghai, Xi Jinping says ‘persistence is victory’ The move comes less than two weeks after the eastern economic hub lurched out of a harsh lockdown that was punctuated by food shortages and isolated protests from irate residents. Officials have maintained a shifting patchwork of restrictions in Shanghai, wary of a virus resurgence after finally containing the country's worst outbreak in two years. China recorded 138 domestic infections on Saturday, including 61 in Beijing and 16 in Shanghai, according to the National Health Commission. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Beijing delays school reopenings after new Covid outbreak

The resumption of school after the holidays in the US is leading to concerns about a further spread of the Coronavirus. Starting yesterday, students resumed in-person learning in many school districts.

United States: New York schools reopen amid Covid surge

With daily COVID-19 cases grazing the 2,000 mark over the past few days and the fear of a third wave, the Tamil Nadu government has announced a new set of restrictions.

All places of worship will be shut on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, in order to prevent crowding. Earlier, the government had also permitted the District Administration or Civic Body or Police to close all marketplaces that witness huge crowds.&nbsp;

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Claiming that the health experts had advised so, the government says it plans to resume physical classes for students of classes 9 to 12, from September 1.

The government intends to do so with 50 per cent occupancy in classrooms and in adherence to COVID-19 norms and they add that it would be decided based on the opinions of all concerned stakeholders. The government also emphasised that online learning has caused a huge disparity as many students couldn’t attend online classes. However, those below the age of 18 (school students) are not eligible for vaccination and suitable vaccines aren’t made available for them.&nbsp;

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Regarding medical and nursing colleges, the government said that they would be permitted to re-open from August 16, adding that the students and faculty had been vaccinated under the frontline workers' quota.

Owing to the third wave fears and rising cases in Kerala, Tamil Nadu has made a two-shot vaccination certificate or RT-PCR mandatory for those entering from Kerala from August 05.

With daily COVID-19 cases grazing the 2,000 mark over the past few days and the fear of a third wave, the Tamil Nadu government has announced a new set of restrictions.

With daily COVID-19 cases grazing the 2,000 mark over the past few days and the fear of a third wave, the Tamil Nadu government has announced a new set of restrictions. All places of worship will be shut on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, in order to prevent crowding. Earlier, the government had also permitted the District Administration or Civic Body or Police to close all marketplaces that witness huge crowds. Also read | White fungus abscess found in the brain of a COVID-recovered patient Claiming that the health experts had advised so, the government says it plans to resume physical classes for students of classes 9 to 12, from September 1. The government intends to do so with 50 per cent occupancy in classrooms and in adherence to COVID-19 norms and they add that it would be decided based on the opinions of all concerned stakeholders. The government also emphasised that online learning has caused a huge disparity as many students couldn’t attend online classes. However, those below the age of 18 (school students) are not eligible for vaccination and suitable vaccines aren’t made available for them. Also read | Johnson & Johnson applies for vaccine authorisation in India Regarding medical and nursing colleges, the government said that they would be permitted to re-open from August 16, adding that the students and faculty had been vaccinated under the frontline workers' quota. Owing to the third wave fears and rising cases in Kerala, Tamil Nadu has made a two-shot vaccination certificate or RT-PCR mandatory for those entering from Kerala from August 05.

Tamil Nadu: Despite third wave risk, government plans to open schools

The Department of School Education and Literacy and the Ministry of Education on Monday (October 5, 2020) issued guidelines for reopening of schools in India.

India: Schools to reopen from October 15, government issues SOPs

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