Advice for UK Education Institutions on Covid-19 impact in East Asia
Summary
At the British Council, the health and safety of all our visitors, staff and the communities in which we operate is our top priority. We support and cooperate with all local government agencies to put all necessary measures in place to ensure the continued well-being of all with whom we engage in the course of our operations.
This post is to keep UK institutions updated on disruptions across the East Asia region caused by the Covid-19 outbreak.
For travel advice, please refer to FCO updates, and we would encourage institutions who are considering travelling to sign up for alerts - https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. We also strongly encourage visiting local government health websites to stay abreast of the prevailing health advisory and precautionary measures in any country.
We are monitoring the situation very closely and will continue to provide updates as the situation develops. Please find current information by country/territory as per below:
Key Updates
Hong Kong: The flight ban for the UK and other 8 countries (Group A places) will be lifted from 01 April.
Indonesia: The rising cases and concerns over the Omicron variant have brought back the tighter safety measures and SOPs for education institutions.
Malaysia: Schools re-opened in March on a face-to-face basis.
Myanmar: Final exams of lower and upper secondary schools will be held from 17 to 23 March 2022 while the matriculation exams will be held from 31 March till 9 April 2022.
China
Updated 25 March 2022
Overview
By 24 March 2022, there are 2054 reported new cases (44 imported cases located in places including Sichuan, Shanghai, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Fujian), leading to a total of 26253 confirmed cases in mainland China.
According to the government’s risk area update, there are 54 high risk areas that concentrate in Tianjin, Jiangsu, Fujian and Shandong, 633 medium risk areas, most of which are locate in Liaoning, Jilin, Jiangsu, Fujian and Shandong.
Education Sector
In March 2022, the Ministry of Education organised online education system pandemic prevention meetings.
All levels of education institutions are required to keep implementing regular pandemic prevention methods, and adapting the measures with local situation and regulations, some highlights as below:
Strict entry regulation and monitoring for the campuses
Strengthen health management and travel monitoring of key groups of staff/students and their family members
Ensure strict campus gate management, promote health education and monitoring among students and teachers
Improve the contingency plan, collaborate with local health department to practice emergency drill for different scenarios
Engage parents to join the pandemic prevention work
Promote the humanistic care for teachers and students, provide timely services including logistic support and mental health care etc.
Domestic travel
Given the increasing cases in several cities, the government has implemented stricter travel guidance:
Regular pandemic prevention and control measures in the public space and transportation- wearing masks, green health code check
People are not encouraged to travel to medium / high risk areas,
If travellers are from medium/high risk areas, they shall comply with local prevention & control policy to go through test and quarantine etc.
Shanghai:
Travel from and to Shanghai are not encouraged, if necessary, traveler shall provide the 48h covid test.
Travel from high-risk area to shanghai, people shall take 14 days quarantine in designated place + 4 covid tests;
People from medium risk areas – 14 community based quarantine + 4 covid tests
Beijing: strict entry requirement with covid test within 48 hours + green health code; people from places with more than 1 confirmed covid cases are not allowed into Beijing; strict control for national meetings and gatherings in Beijing
International entry
Beijing – 14 +7 +7 (14 days quarantine in designated places + 7 home quarantine + 7 days health monitoring)
Guangzhou – 14 days quarantine in designated places + 7 days home-based quarantine + 7 days health monitoring
Shanghai – 14 days quarantine in designated places + 7 days community- based health monitoring
Sources:
http://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2022-03/24/content_5680977.htm
http://bmfw.www.gov.cn/yqfxdjcx/risk.html
Hong Kong
Updated 22 March 2022
There has been a considerable drop in the number of infections since last Friday (17 March) to below 20,000 cases according to the Hong Kong government’s latest report. Given a downward trend in daily caseload and no sign of a rebound recently, the government decided to relax social-distancing measures from 21 April onwards. The maximum number of people permitted for group gatherings in public places will be relaxed to four. Scheduled premises such as sports centres, museums under the Leisure & Cultural Services Department will reopen in phases.
Meanwhile, the flight ban for the UK and other 8 countries (Group A places) will be lifted from 01 April. Hong Kong residents who are fully vaccinated must also hold a negative result of PCR test within 48 hours and a confirmation of a room reservation at a designated quarantine hotel for at least seven nights prior to departure.
Sources:
Social distancing set to be eased:
https://www.news.gov.hk/eng/2022/03/20220321/20220321_124329_218.html?type=category&name=covid19&tl=tFlight ban to be lifted in Apr :
https://www.news.gov.hk/eng/2022/03/20220321/20220321_124502_138.html?type=category&name=covid19&tl=t
Education
Schools: face-to-face classes to resume after Easter holiday
Local schools are currently on the early summer break due to the escalating fifth wave of the pandemic in late February/early March. However, given the city’s Covid-19 situation showing a descending trend lately, the government announced kindergartens, primary schools, and international schools will resume in-person lessons after Easter on 19 April. Secondary schools will need to wait after the graduating cohort completed the core subjects of Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) exams on 22 April.
Source:
Classes to resume after Easter:
https://www.news.gov.hk/eng/2022/03/20220321/20220321_124717_054.html?type=category&name=covid19&tl=t
Adjustment to 2022 HKDSE exam timetable
The exam date of this year’s HKDSE exam remains on 22 April as planned at this point. Candidates are required to hold a negative test result before entering a test centre. The results are tentatively scheduled to be released on 20 July. Meanwhile, given the current Covid situation still fluid, the examination period will be compressed from four weeks to three weeks. Two contingency dates – 13 May and 02 June are also set aside should the situation not be improved in April as per the announcement of Hong Kong Examinations and Assessments Authority (HKEAA). The worst scenario would be cancellation of the HKDSE exam if the pandemic situation remained severe in mid-May. In this case, students would obtain a predicted grade based on their school internal assessment marks provided by HKEAA in August.
Source:
https://www.hkeaa.edu.hk/DocLibrary/Media/PR/PR_2022DSE_contingency_20220228_eng.pdf
JUPAS 2022: nearly 40% drop in the number of applications, compared to 2012
Hong Kong has seen only 38,955 applications for the Joint University Programs Admissions System (JUPAS, is equivalent to UCAS in the UK) this year, which is also 1,057 less than the last year’s figure (2021). This year marks as the eleventh anniversary since JUPAS launched in 2012. Over the decade, there has been a dwindling trend in numbers of HKDSE students applying through JUPAS due to the decline of secondary school demographic. This year, it had recorded the lowest number of applicants yet. Local news reports suggested that the trend may be resulting in the emigration wave.
British Council operations in Hong Kong
In line with the HK government’s new social-distancing rules, The British Council remains closed to the general public. For the most up-to-date information on our services, please visit our website: www.britishcouncil.hk/en/covid-19 . We are of course happy to hold meetings with the UK Education sector by means of online calls.
Travel restrictions in summary
Non-Hong Kong residents will be denied entry into HK
Transit flight services at Hong Kong International Airport resumed from 01 June 2020
Residents and valid visa holders travelling from outside of China (excluding very high-risk places specified otherwise) must supply a negative Covid-19 test result 72 hours prior to flight departure time and a confirmation letter of hotel reservation for 21-day self-quarantine before boarding for HK. For more details, please refer to the travel guide: https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/concise_guide_vaccinated_travellers_ENG.pdf
Travellers who stayed in Taiwan over the past 14 days require to comply with the same rules as passengers travelling from outside of China. Non-HK residents will be denied for entry.
Sources:
https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/inbound-travel.html
Centre for Health Protection (CHP), HKSAR
Macau
- Macao government also lowered the age limit for Pfizer/BionTech vaccine to 12.
Source:
https://macaonews.org/covid-19/macao-to-lower-biontech-jab-age-limit-to-12/
Indonesia
Updated 24 March 2022
An important announcement by President Joko Widodo on 23 March 2022 focusses on new regulations for entering Indonesia. Travellers will soon no longer be asked to quarantine upon arrival at Indonesia airport. Travellers will still be required to undergo PCR tests.
The no quarantine rule has been pilot-tested in major tourist destinations such as Bali and the special economic zone Batam/Bintan, and after assessing Covid infection rate in these areas the government is confident to apply the no quarantine rule nationally. The Ministry of Transport is now working with the port authority, Covid-19 National Task Force and travel operators to iron out technical details. The Ministry is expected to issue technical guidelines (circular letter) in April for travellers’ reference, an official statement is expected soon.
Sources:
And Tirto (online media): https://tirto.id/jokowi-ppln-tiba-di-indonesia-tak-perlu-lagi-karantina-gqfi
Education
The increase in the number of positive Covid-19 cases has impacted the “100% offline classes” plan particularly for schools and Indonesia are back to limited face to face model for education institutions as was previously in place.
The rising cases and concerns over the Omicron variant have brought back the tighter safety measures and SOPs for education institutions.
Source: https://en.antaranews.com/news/207437/limited-face-to-face-learning-in-jakarta-starts-on-monday
Vaccination
Indonesia is rolling out the vaccine booster drives since January, with priority given to the elderly and those at risk. 244 regencies and cities in Indonesia are qualified to participate in this nationwide programme as they have reached more than 60% for second dose recipients The other regions will focus on raising the vaccination rate (primary dose) before declaring eligibility for booster jabs.
Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1546340/health-ministry-to-kickstart-booster-shots-on-january-12
Japan
Updated 23 March 2022
Latest news
The Japanese government decided to lift all quasi-emergency measures across the country from 22 March 2022 to maintain social and economic activities. It is the first time since 8 January 2022 for all of Japan's prefectures to be free of wide-sweeping coronavirus restrictions.
From this month, international students can enter Japan under the supervision of receiving organizations located in Japan. The Japanese government also initiated the “Scheme for Smooth Entry of International Students” to assure the entry of international students into Japan with priority.
Schools and Universities
Japan has opened its vaccination program to children aged 5-11. Japan’s infection rate has declined, but infections among children remain high.
MEXT announced the resumption of study abroad programs for less than one year based on the inter-university exchange agreement for Japanese students on 4 February 2022.
British Council Activities
We have been receiving requests to participate in the study abroad information sessions from Japanese Educational institutions and Prefectural Governments. We will conduct inhouse StudyUK webinar later April.
Malaysia
Updated 23 March 2022
The Malaysian government announced that Malaysia will transition into endemic phase and reopening of borders rom 1 April 2022. This is a major step amid the Omicron wave with sectors opening and moving towards resumption of regular operations.
Sources:
https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/malaysia-enter-endemic-phase-april-1-says-pm
Education
Schools re-opened in March on a face-to-face basis. Campus SOPs include strict measures such as physical distancing and use of sanitisers on entering classrooms to help curb risk of infections. Schools have the option and flexibility of offering online classes and having attendance on a rotation basis subject to the number of positive cases/infections on campus, if needed. The Ministries pf Education and Health continue to monitor the situation and issue updated SOPs as per the situation.
Sources:
https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2022/03/777110/flexibility-students-parents-when-schools-reopen
International students enrolled at Malaysian institutions from most countries are now able to return to Malaysia if they meet the rules and protocols regarding testing and quarantine. Requirements include taking RT-PCR Covid-19 tests three days prior to travel, PCR tests on arrival, on day 10 and possibly day 18; quarantine for 14 days or periods stipulated by the Ministry of Health among other rules.
Sources:
Travel
Malaysia is re-opening borders for fully vaccinated international travellers starting 1 April. All international visitors will be required to undergo PCR tests two days before travel and a rapid test on arrival into the country. International travellers who are not fully vaccinated will be required to undergo quarantine on arrival, along with not having access to most public places if not vaccinated.
Sources:
Singapore
Updated 22 March 2022
Singapore has implemented several updates to the management protocols for Covid-19, as the country continues to transition towards an endemic situation. Omicron cases seem to have peaked and infections are now seemingly on the decline, as a result of which some relaxations to existing safe management measures have come into place since 15 March 2022. Current protocols include differentiated safe management measures for vaccinated and non-vaccinated individuals.
Source: https://www.moh.gov.sg/covid-19-phase-advisory
Vaccinations
The National vaccination programme is progressing well, with 92% of the population fully vaccinated, and 71% of the population having received their booster shots. Routine regular testing is no longer mandated for frontline workers including healthcare personnel, but is encouraged. Vaccination-differentiated measures have been implemented at all workplaces.
Sources:
https://www.moh.gov.sg/covid-19/vaccination
Vaccinations (Pfizer) have also been rolled out to primary school children from 5-11 years of age.
Source: https://www.gov.sg/article/updates-to-singapores-vaccination-programme
Booster shots continue to be administered to those aged 12 years and above. From 14 Feb 2022, individuals will be considered as fully vaccinated for 270 days after completion of their primary vaccination series. This is to encourage people to take their booster doses as soon as they are eligible to do so (i.e. within five months of completion of their primary vaccinations).
Source: https://www.moh.gov.sg/covid-19/vaccination/faqs---booster-doses
Travel advisory
Border controls now include differentiated measures for travellers from countries/regions that have controlled the pandemic well and have also vaccinated large parts of their population. Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs) have been established with more than 30 countries, including the UK.
Source: https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg/vtl/requirements-and-process
On-arrival PCR tests for travellers entering Singapore had been replaced with supervised ART (antigen) tests; this requirement has now been further relaxed to allow for non-supervised ART tests within 24 hours of arrival in Singapore.
Travel for studies
For international students, Student Pass Holder Lane (STPL) regulations apply. These health control requirements (including pre-departure tests, further testing in-country, and contact tracing measures) would also be stated as conditions of entry approval where relevant.
Source: https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg/stpl/overview
For students, the governmental advisory continues to allow travel for studies for students pursuing academic studies or professional qualifications overseas, for courses or examinations which require physical presence in the foreign educational institution. Students enrolled in local educational institutions may travel overseas to complete a compulsory course component or examination that cannot be completed locally. Students below the age of 18 may be accompanied by an adult. Mature students may travel overseas with their dependents who will be residing with them for the duration of their studies.
The autonomous universities have announced the resumption of their overseas (outbound) student programmes for fully vaccinated students, to Sweden, China, Australia and the UK. These had been suspended by the Ministry of Education since March 2020. Student exchange programmes are slated to begin from January 2022 onwards.
The Ministry of Health in Singapore provides a regularly updated status report on the daily Covid-19 situation at https://www.moh.gov.sg/covid-19
Myanmar
Updated on 21 March 2022
Covid 19 Updates
The current Covid-19 situation in Myanmar is less severe than it has been in recent months. Whilst there have been a total of 19,423 Covid-19 deaths in Myanmar since March 2020, Ministry of Health figures in the last 24 hours on 19 March 2022 indicate 379 new cases identified out of 15,911 tests, giving a positivity rate of 2.4% (down from a high of over 10% in early February) and only 3 new deaths. COVID-19 vaccines are being administered nationwide for the prevention and control of the disease.
Situation in Myanmar
The situation in Myanmar has been closely monitored since February 2021. Security incidents remain frequent with security measures and Covid-19 restrictions still being maintained. The Curfew of 22:00-04:00 is still in effect in some regions, including Yangon.
Travel
Entry to Myanmar for all visitors has been suspended until 16 April 2022. Visas are temporarily suspended with very few exceptions. Travel Advice can also be found on the FCDO travel advice pages.
The VFS Visa application centre in Yangon resumed their services on 27 Sept 2021 and Myanmar came off the ‘red list’ for travellers returning to the UK on 4 Oct 2021. UKVI can now process visit visa applications, which had been on hold due to red list restrictions.
Only Relief flights and Special flights into and out of the country are currently available. Direct flights are still limited. Flight bookings and trip preparations should be considered carefully and in consultation with travel agencies as well as close monitoring of travel restrictions and entry requirements for the destination. https://www.myanmaronlinevisa.com/entry-restrictions/
Schools, universities and public events
Final exams of lower and upper secondary are being conducted from 17th to 23rd March 2022.
Matriculation exams will be held from 31st March to 9th April 2022.
Higher Education Institutions started to re-open on 6 January 2022 but their exam schedules for this semester have not been announced as yet.
Facemasks are mandatory in public places.
British Council’s activities
Staff at the British Council are mostly still working from home, though they can work in the office if they wish in line with agreed processes. Staff who plan to visit the office regularly are required to take a Lateral Flow test once a week for Covid 19 control and monitoring. A new access controlled entrance should soon be completed at our main office, which will allow public access to our physical Library for the first time in well over a year.
Staff based in Myanmar have been asked to complete special training on how to remain safe in conflict situations; they have been advised to avoid crowds and not to travel around their cities unnecessarily.
IELTS, Cambridge Young Learner exams, Pearson Edexcel and LCCI exams have all resumed, ensuring Covid-19 precautions and security requirements in line with the current situation in Myanmar are adhered to. Exams for the May/June 2022 series for Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge International AS & A Level have been cancelled across Myanmar. Instead, students can obtain results and certificates from Cambridge International based on a Portfolio of Evidence, which will be marked and graded by Cambridge examiners. Cambridge International is working with the British Council to make the Portfolio of Evidence route available to as many private candidates as possible so that they, too, can obtain results and certificates in this June series. English language classes at our Teaching Centre for young learners and adults are still being delivered online.
For more information, please visit: https://www.britishcouncil.org.mm/
South Korea
Updated on 24 March 2022
Starting April 1, international tourists will be able to visit South Korea without quarantine — provided they are vaccinated against COVID-19. This applies to visitors from most countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and more. The only exceptions are visitors from Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, and Myanmar, who will continue to be required to quarantine for seven days. The travellers will be required to have received a booster shot to bypass quarantine if more than 180 days have passed since the last recommended dose of a primary vaccine schedule.
The government has also decided to further ease social-distancing rules against Covid-19. Under the new guideline, the maximum number of people allowed for private gatherings will be raised from six to eight nationwide, Restaurants, cafes, indoor sports facilities and karaoke as well as night-time entertainment facilities, such as bars and nightclubs, will be permitted to open until 11 p.m.
Regardless of vaccination, 299 people will be allowed to gather for events, such as sports events, festivals and concerts.
The maximum number of people allowed to join religious services will be 70 per cent of the total seating capacity.
Sources:
KCDC (Korean government’s official website for Covid-19)
KBR (http://www.koreabiomed.com)
Taiwan
Updated 18 March 2022
Taiwan’s cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus, the total number of confirmed cases at 21,583, and 853 deaths since the pandemic began at the end of December 2019, according to the Central Epidemic Command Centre (CECC) (source).
To keep social distancing of 1.5M and to wear the masks when entering to restaurant and public transportations are requested by the CDC. For information on the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in Taiwan, please visit the Taiwan Centres for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov.tw/En
Most public large events like exhibition or show are opened but various events and activities are requested to wearing the masks, and still maintain registering name and ID numbers, temperature measures and alcohol spraying when entering the venue.
Schools and Universities
Schools and Universities are open and courses are running normally.
Taiwan first-dose vaccination rate hits 84.38% and 76.09% completed 3 vaccinations: CECC
Travel Restrictions in summary
All foreign nationals except for those who hold Alien Resident Certificates (ARCs), documents proving they are in Taiwan for diplomatic or official purposes or to fulfil business contracts, or special entry permits are prohibited from entering Taiwan.
For the latest updates on Taiwan’s entry requirements, please monitor the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control website and the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bureau of Consular Affairs website.
Sources:
https://www.roc-taiwan.org/uk/index.html
https://english.moe.gov.tw/lp-117-1.html
British Council Activities
British Council staff return to the office to work now, all classes at the Teaching Centre are now running the blended course, IELTS exams continue running followed by the country’s regulations.
Thailand
Updated 18 March 2022
From 1 March 2022, fully vaccinated travellers can enter Thailand through the ‘Test and Go’ and ‘Sandbox’ scheme. Travellers who are not fully vaccinated are eligible to enter the Alternative Quarantine (AQ) for 10 nights. More information: https://london.thaiembassy.org/en/publicservice/requirements-for-foreigners-travelling-to-thailand-during-covid-19-tra?page=5d6636cd15e39c3bd00072dd&menu=5f4b6eb3f6ae4b236972c562
From 1 April 2022, it is expected that all travellers do not need to take a pre-departure RT-PCR test but still need to do it upon arrival and do a self-ATK test on Day 5. In addition, the quarantine period for travellers who are not fully vaccinated will reduce to 5 nights.
From 1 April 2022, Thailand will relax some Covid-19 related measures, including getting rid of the maximum and strictly controlled, and controlled zones.
The VFS Visa Application Centres in Bangkok and Chiang Mai are open, with physical distancing measures in place. More information: https://visa.vfsglobal.com/tha/en/gbr
Schools, universities and public events
From 3 January 2022, schools may change their teaching methods to on-air, online, on hand or on-demand, as appropriate, and follow Covid measures strictly.
From 1 April 2022, educational institutes may revert back to on-site teaching. Covid-19 prevention measures must be in place.
The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation announced on 1 September that universities may adopt onsite teaching and activities with Covid-19 control measures as necessary and appropriate.
Wearing a mask when leaving home is compulsory.
British Council’s operation
Our teaching centres in Bangkok offer face-to-face English courses for adults and young learners. The examination schedule is business as usual, with necessary measures in place.
For more information please visit https://www.britishcouncil.or.th/en/about/notice
The International Education Services Team is still in operation and will be able to help give advice and respond to queries from UK institutions, agents, and stakeholders.
Vietnam
Updated: 24 March 2022
As of March 23, 2022, Vietnam’s Ministry of Health confirmed a total of 8,338,914 cases of COVID-19. However, 4,468,805 of the affected patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals. Vietnam has also recorded 42,014 deaths due to the pandemic. The latest community transmission cases have been reported from Hanoi, Phu Tho, Nghe An, Lao Cai, and Hai Duong among others.
Vietnam currently accepts Covid-19 vaccine passports from 72 countries and territories, and is discussing the issue with 80 others.
Travel restrictions:
Vietnam reopened for international tourism with the health ministry releasing entry procedures for foreign arrivals. As per the ministry, foreign arrivals need to test negative for the virus prior to arrival in Vietnam and can then travel quarantine free within the country.
Fully vaccinated people and those who have recovered from Covid-19 will only need to self-isolate for three days instead of enter centralized quarantine for seven days.
Schools, universities and public events
Students in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh and other big cities are still learning online.
British Council’s operation:
Our English classes in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city are being delivered online.
Exams services in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city are resumed and required to operate at 50 percent capacity at each test venue.
Sources:
Vietnam relaxes entry restrictions for tourists before full reopening, 17 February
Vietnam to reopen international tourism from March 15, 15 February
Contact: BCEducationServices@britishcouncil.org