Most Thai schools ready to reopen for new semester next week

Suphat Champatong, the ministry’s permanent secretary, said desks will be kept one metre apart instead of 1.5m to ensure a regular 8mx8m classroom can accommodate 42 students.

“Airconditioned classrooms will be ventilated every two hours,” he said.

Schools have been advised to separate eating areas during the lunch break and ensure students refrain from talking while eating. They will also be required to wear a facemask when playing, he added.

Meanwhile, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration deputy permanent secretary Chawin Sirinak said all schools in Bangkok are ready to hold classes under the Covid-19 prevention measures.

He added that children whose parents do not want them to return to school can attend online classes instead.

Deputy Public Health Minister Satit Pitutecha said schools have been told to speed up the vaccination of students, undergo Thai Stop Covid Plus evaluation and put in place emergency measures in case any Covid-19 infections are recorded.

“Schools will not close [if Covid-19 patients are found] and studies will not be disrupted,” he said.

Provincial Public Health Offices have also been instructed to put in place strict Covid-19 prevention measures.

Meanwhile, Department of Disease Control director-general Opas Karnkawinpong said that as of May 3, 3.6 million children aged 12 to 17 have received their first Covid-19 jab, 3.5 million their second jab and 240,000 their third jab.

“As of May 2, 2.7 million children aged five to 11 have received their first jab and 670,000 their second jab,” he said. He added that the department is pushing to get as many children in this age range inoculated with the Pfizer vaccine.