Guidelines on Conducting Physical Activities for the Prevention of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: How should schools adjust the curriculum content, assessment and exercise intensity for students in Physical Education (PE)?
A1: Engaging in regular physical exercise can help build up immunity, and maintain physical and psychological health. In light of the latest development of the pandemic, teachers should adjust the content of the PE curriculum and assessment appropriately. Learning contents should include individual practice and individual fitness exercise that can be done at home. Teachers should provide online learning resources, teach students how to work out a plan for self-training and encourage them to participate in physical activities daily. In addition, teachers should adjust students’ exercise intensity during PE lessons/physical activities and remind them to increase exercise intensity progressively according to their own capacity.
Q2: Must students wear masks during PE lessons on school premises?
What should teachers be aware of when students are wearing masks during PE lessons?
A2: If students have received the second dose of vaccination for more than 14 days, schools may arrange these students to have moderate- or vigorous- intensity physical activities and swimming activities*, including “contact”
sports such as football, basketball, etc., without wearing masks 1 . Otherwise, students should wear masks as far as possible, have low- intensity physical activities, and keep social distancing for at least 1 metre.
In addition, school staff/students with "Amber Code" are not allowed to participate in any mask-off activities at school.
When students are wearing masks during PE lessons, teachers should only
1 Starting from 1 October 2022, the arrangements will be stepped up to the completion of three doses of vaccine, excluding those students aged 5 to 11 who are required to receive only two doses of BioNTech vaccines, and students with prior COVID-19 infection who are not required to take the third dose of vaccine. Regarding those students who are still within the time interval waiting to receive the third dose, they should observe the CHP's recommendation to take the third dose within one week after they are eligible to do so.
Updated on 31.8.2022
arrange low intensity (simple, light and easy to do) exercises for students.
When doing physical activities, teachers should remind students to remove their masks and inform teachers immediately if they have difficulty breathing/are not feeling well. Students should also be reminded to inform their teachers immediately if they find their classmate(s) not feeling well. Teachers should always observe students’ health condition to see if they are fit for continuing with the physical activities. Students should be reminded to bring additional face mask for replacement in case it is wetted due to sweating.
*If the swimming pools on school premises are open, schools should take the precautionary measures adopted for swimming pools managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Schools should also ensure that relevant Government requirements as stipulated on Cap. 599F, “Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation” and related regulations are complied with.
Q3: How should teachers help students with difficulty breathing or those who need assistance to remove the mask during PE lessons/
physical activities?
A3: For safety reasons, mask-wearing is not recommended for students with difficulty breathing (e.g. students with asthma) or those who need assistance to remove the mask (e.g. students with hand injuries or with special needs who have difficulties removing their masks). Teachers should arrange these students to keep a social distance for at least 1.5 metres apart from one other when the latter are doing physical activities without wearing a mask. Also, teachers should keep a close eye on students’ health condition to see if they are fit for continuing with the physical activities.
Q4: Can ball games be arranged during PE lessons for students on school premises?
A4: If students have received the second dose of vaccination for more than 14 days, schools may arrange these students to do physical activities without wearing masks1, including contact sports such as football,
to have ball games or skill practices which do not involve physical contact for students, for example, arranging individual skill practice and single matches for playing table-tennis and badminton or arranging individual skill practice not involving physical contact for basketball and football. In addition, school staff/students with "Amber Code" are not allowed to participate in any mask-off activities at school.
Q5: What should teachers be aware of when arranging physical activities outside school premises?
A5: If physical activities are to be conducted on public sports premises/performance venues, teachers should observe the latest EDB guidelines, such as “Guidelines on Conducting Physical Activities for the Prevention of Coronavirus Disease”, and the relevant preventive measures as specified on the related premises (Remarks: In general, sports participants should observe the “Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation” (Cap.
599F) and its annex , and the Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation (Cap. 599I)) to arrange suitable physical activities for students. Teachers should remind students to observe their health conditions to see whether they are fit for doing physical activities and increase the exercise intensity progressively according to their ability. If students feel unwell, they should inform their teachers and seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
Q6: Can schools allow students to have sports activities for the half- days without classes?
A6: Schools should refer to the latest letters and “Health Protection Measures for Schools” issued by the EDB to arrange suitable non-academic extra-curricular activities (including physical activities) for students meeting the vaccination requirements for the other half-days (outside the half days with schooling). For details, please refer to the following webpage
https://www.edb.gov.hk/attachment/en/sch-admin/admin/about- sch/diseases-prevention/edb_20220830_eng.pdf
School should also make reference to the EDB related guidelines, such as
“Health Protection Measures for Schools” and “Guidelines on Conducting Physical Activities for the Prevention of Coronavirus Disease (COVID- 19)”.
Q7: When can schools have swimming gala and sports day? How should schools handle the reserved public sports facilities in the 2022/23 s.y.?
A7： Taking into account the epidemic development, the EDB from time to time refines the following precautionary measures and points to note, including luncheon arrangements and the organisation of different large- scale events (for example, swimming galas, sports days etc.). Please refer to the following webpage for details about “Health Protection Measures for Schools”,
If the reserved public sports facilities cannot be used in the 2022/23 s.y.
because of suspension of class, schools should cancel the bookings in writing to the respective venue office. Regarding the pre-payment made to LCSD, schools should download the form, “Application for Refund of Hire/Admission Charges of Leisure Facilities”, from LCSD webpage, complete and submit it together with the original permit to the respective venues under LCSD in person or by mail as soon as possible to apply for refund. Relevant webpages are as follows:
(1) LCSD refund webpage:
https://www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/aboutlcsd/forms/refund.html
(2) Webpages for searching LCSD venue addresses:
Aquatics facilities:
;
https://www.edb.gov.hk/en/sch-admin/admin/about-sch/diseases- prevention/guidelines-covid19.html
Land sports facilities:
https://www.lcsd.gov.hk/tc/facilities/facilitieslist/landsports.html
Q8: What should teachers be aware of when conducting online PE lessons?
A8: When conducting online PE lessons, teachers should remind students the following safety precautions:
To wear proper clothing and footwear during activities;
Before activities, the floor should be smooth and dry; indoor area should be kept well ventilated;
Adequate space and safe environment should be arranged; any glass windows, doors, tables, chairs, lights, fans and sharp edges, etc.
which are in close vicinity to the activity area should be temporarily removed or installed with protective devices;
All equipment must be checked for safety before use;
Students should do adequate warm-up exercises at the beginning of the activity;
Learning should be started from activities at the lowest level of difficulty (simple, light and easy to do), such as stretching and basic fitness exercises. The intensity of exercise should be increased gradually;
The intensity, duration and frequency of exercises should be arranged according to the personal health and fitness conditions;
To drink water after the activity for replenishment. Personal hygiene should be observed;
If feeling unwell during or after the activity, students should stop immediately and seek medical or professional assistance;
Before activities, student should learn about the lesson arrangement, rundown and safety precautions with their parents or guardians, for familiarising themselves with the respective requirements, so as to enable them to provide appropriate support and cooperation; and
Before activities, the camera should be switched on so that teachers could be able to teach and interact with students, as well as providing them with instant instructions and feedback through the screen.
Q9: Are the online PE lessons arranged by schools for students having at home covered in by the Block Insurance Policy?
A9: Yes. For details of the Block Insurance Policy, please refer to EDB website (Path: Home > School Administration and Management
>Administration >About School >School Safety & Insurance)
Physical Education Section
Curriculum Development Institute August 2022
