Back to school in China as lockdowns start to ease

Children in China's two most important cities went back to school after more than three months at home, as coronavirus restrictions eased and governments around the world began charting a path out of the pandemic lockdown. | A student walks past police and officials as he arrives at a high school in Beijing. Senior students returned to class for the first time since schools were closed down in January as part of efforts to stop the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Shanghai students in their final year of middle and high school were allowed back into their classrooms on Monday, while in Beijing only high school seniors were back on campus, furiously studying for the make-or-break university entrance exam. | A student arrives at a high school in Beijing.

Students must have their temperatures checked at school gates and show "green" health codes on an app that calculates a person's infection risk, according to China's Ministry of Education. | A student walks past police and officials as he arrives at a high school in Beijing.

Virus numbers in China - where the disease first emerged late last year - have dwindled as the country begins to cautiously lift control measures, although fears remain over a potential resurgence and cases imported from abroad. | Students wearing face masks arrive at the Huayu Middle School in Shanghai.

A student (2nd L) wearing a face mask arrives at the Huayu Middle School to resume classes in Shanghai.

Police and officials emerge from a high school as a man (L) disinfects the entrance after students arrived for their first day of classes in Beijing.

A student (in white) walks past police and officials as she arrives at a high school in Beijing.

Students wearing face masks arrive at the Huayu Middle School in Shanghai.

A student (centre R) walks past police and officials as she arrives at a high school in Beijing.

Students (R) wearing face masks arrive at the Huayu Middle School in Shanghai.