HANGZHOU — East China's Zhejiang province, one of the areas worst-hit by the novel coronavirus epidemic, continued to postpone the beginning of the 2020 spring semester until further notice in an effort to curb the virus's spread.

All educational institutions from universities to kindergartens in the province will not reopen earlier than the end of February, according to the provincial education committee.

Schools will provide online courses for students, make special teaching and management plans, and organize students to study at home.

All after-school tutorial classes offered by commercial training agencies will be also suspended.

In late January, Zhejiang postponed the commencement of the spring semester to Feb 17 at the earliest.