In an announcement posted on its website, the Hong Kong Education Bureau said, "All kindergartens, kindergartens-cum-child care centres, primary schools and special schools will begin the Easter holiday from March 13 to March 28."
Hong Kong Secretary for Food and Health York Chow said at a city press briefing on Wednesday, "We will monitor the incident on a day-to-day basis to see what the trend is.'' The government will announce any findings as soon as possible, he said.
According to Radio Television Hong Kong a seven-year-old boy died Tuesday at the city's Tuen Mun Hospital and the school closed amid the flu outbreak. Laboratory tests on a seven-year-old boy who died after suffering respiratory and neurological symptoms showed positive results for influenza A (H1N1).
A three-year-old and 27-month-old have also died. However the government is still investigating the cases saying no common factors between the deaths have been identified at this stage.
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) received reports of outbreaks of flu-like illness affecting 23 schools involving a total of 184 people Wednesday. The illnesses could be caused by flu or other respiratory viruses.
As the two-week period is two times of the incubation period for the virus, the schools will be thoroughly cleansed during this break.
"We hope the break would minimise the chance of infection for these young children so that they can have a clean and healthy environment when they return after the holidays," the government added.
