HCM City (VNA), Feb. 15 -- Local officials in HCM City and Hanoi announced on February 14 that schools will remain shut for at least another week due to concerns about the spread of COVID-19.

The move means schools, universities and colleges in the country's two biggest cities will have been shut for a full three weeks after the end of the Lunar New Year holiday.

As of February 14, 41 provinces and cities had planned to reopen on February 17 following the Ministry of Education and Training's statement that provinces and cities where COVID-19 has not appeared could open after two weeks off.

Schools are required to have chairs, desks, classrooms and their campus disinfected and cleaned.

Speaking at a meeting of the National Steering Boa...