In cooperation with different departments in Macao as well as coordination with and support of the relevant departments in Zhuhai, the DSEDJ and schools worked together to arrange for about 500 eligible cross-border students and accompanying persons to return to Zhuhai for home isolation today, 11 October and tomorrow, 12 October. The students are under the age of 14 and meet the eligibility and conditions for home isolation. They return to Zhuhai by special transportation in batches.

After assisting cross-border students in need to settle in temporary accommodation on 4 October, the DSEDJ immediately began to explore the feasibility of arranging for students to conditionally return to mainland China, collect students’ wishes to return to Zhuhai through schools. And during several days afterwards, the DSEDJ kept close communication with the Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao Affairs Office of Zhuhai as well as Education Bureau of Zhuhai, arranged discussions for parents and representatives of the Zhuhai Municipal Government. Finally, Zhuhai Government approved the proposal for cross-border students and accompanying persons to return to Zhuhai for 14 days of home isolation on condition that the student’s living environment meets the requirements of epidemic prevention and control after verification by the Resident Committee in Zhuhai.

On the first day today, starting from 9:00 a.m. onwards, about 260 eligible cross-border students and their parents departed for Zhuhai via Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Port in batches after completing the nucleic acid testing. The leaders and staff of the DSEDJ were on site to coordinate work relating to check-in and customs clearance. Special channels were opened at the port of entry of the two places. Students went through customs in an orderly manner and the overall process went smoothly. According to Zhuhai’s regulations, after arriving in Zhuhai, the relevant students and their parents were sent to the designated hotel by special vehicles for taking the nucleic acid testing again. After the result was obtained, the District Committee would send them back to their residence for 14 days of home quarantine. In addition, about more than 200 cross-border students and their parents will return to Zhuhai tomorrow.

The DSEDJ has reached a consensus with schools that students’ absence related to home quarantine will be excluded from being counted as absence and appropriate tutorial will be provided to them after returning to school. In addition, there are still about more than 500 cross-border students staying in Macao. Some of them do not meet the requirements of Zhuhai, some choose to continue to stay in Macao. The DSEDJ will continue to provide them with temporary accommodation service, consideration and arrangements will be made according to exceptional circumstances, level of urgency and allocation of hostel places.