The novel coronavirus was first reported on 31 December 2019 from Wuhan, China. However, since then the Chinese government has managed to control the situation and ease COVID-19 restrictions in the country.
Like, recently, schools in China have reopened after a long hiatus due to the lockdown, reports India Today. Despite students returning to classrooms, social distancing is being followed as a precautionary measure against COVID-19. In fact, one school in the city of Hangzhou has found a unique way to enforce social distancing amongst students.
Have a look at the video shared by a Chinese news outlet:
The video shows first-graders at the Yangzheng Elementary School wearing DIY hats, The special hats have a 3-foot-long horizontal plume extending on either side. The students have even covered their faces with masks.
The school let students wear colorful headgear to remind them to keep a distance from each other, reports NDTV.
Have a look at the tweet shared by Duke University professor Eileen Chengyin Chow:
First graders back to school in Hangzhou, with social distancing headgear
The long horizontal plumes on Song Dynasty toppers were supposedly to prevent officials from conspiring sotto voce with one another while at court—so social distancing was in fact their original function! pic.twitter.com/0AOKsWE1xH
— eileen chengyin chow (@chowleen) April 27, 2020
Many people admired the creative hats used to maintain social distancing in the school:
Wow! This is adorable and really interesting. I hope they are safe enough…
— Tristan Felix 🏳️🌈 (@tiger) April 27, 2020
Historical precedents used. Clever on the part of the teacher to be able to incorporate a history lesson and maintain social distancing.
— Olga Sadowy (@OSadowy) April 27, 2020
I keep having trouble imagining how kids can be in school together and keep a safe distance. This is the first time I've seen an idea of how to seriously address it! Pretty awesome.
— Ruby knows why Cassandra lost her mind (@Ruby) April 27, 2020
I've no idea that schools in my hometown can get that creative!
— Lesley Lai (@LesleyLai6) April 27, 2020
Others were concerned as students could still break the social distancing norm by being face-to-face:
Someone could directly stand behind or in front of you you though..
— Sheyda Nicole // Houston (@SheydaNicole) April 27, 2020
So, you do realize they can still get together forehead to forehead, right? Just wondering…
— John Sheehan (@John16280) April 27, 2020
This only covers left and right. How about front and back???
— Fatemeh ²⁵ ²⁶ ☾ Wife to Husband Kim SeokJin PD Nim (@pd_seokjin) April 27, 2020
Couldn't they speak face to face without smacking each other?
— BTS ARMY Documentary Team⁷ (@amidocumentary) April 27, 2020
Well, what do you think about these vibrant headgears? Would you wear them to school? Tell us in the comments below!