Beijing unveils plans for safe gaokao

As the recent wave of COVID-19 outbreak in Beijing has been effectively controlled, Beijing authorities have made work plans to ensure a safe gaokao, or college entrance examinations, under preventive and control measures, an education official said on Sunday at a news conference.

Li Yi, spokesman for Beijing Municipal Education Commission, said 54,000 students in the city have registered for the upcoming gaokao, which will be held from June 7 to June 10.

"We are straining every nerve to ensure that the exam will be safely held as scheduled, and all candidates will be able to take the exam," Li said.

The commission has set up different kinds of test centers — 99 regular ones, some in locked down and controlled areas, and others in places for medical observation and treatment.

Each candidate in locked down areas should have a separate examination room. For candidates in controlled areas, several students can share an examination room but the distance of their seats should not be less than two meters.

Back-up test centers have also been prepared in case epidemic clusters rise near regular test centers.

At present, the settings of all kinds of testing centers, together with personnel and supplies, have been put in place, Li said.

The commission has made plans of arranging accommodation and transportation for students in controlled areas to ensure a closed loop, he added.

"We will monitor the epidemic-related situation of candidates in a timely manner and conduct a round of assessment of the candidates, examination staff and their roommates every day," Li said, adding that health condition and the regional risk level of their dwellings are included in the assessment.

As of Sunday, Beijing had seven high-risk areas for COVID-19 and 14 medium-risk areas.

Students from kindergarten to senior high schools have been told not to go back to campus at present.

Li said it's still not clear if students will be able to go back to school before the exams.