BEIJING — Students shall always wear protective masks in the classroom as schools start to reopen, an official with the Ministry of Education (MOE) said on March 31.

Wang Dengfeng, director of the MOE leading group office on the COVID-19 epidemic, told a press conference that the requirement is necessary for crowded space like classrooms, but may be exempted when the students are on outdoor playgrounds and have enough space between each other in low-risk regions.

The requirements for epidemic prevention and control are different in different regions, but ensuring safety is a prerequisite for schools to open for the new semester, said Wang, adding that the ministry has required all schools to formulate detailed emergency plans.

He also highlighted the role of psychological counseling and assistance to teachers and students amid the epidemic.