The re-opening of public schools has been postponed by two weeks in order to test all administrative, technical and teaching staff for coronavirus (COVID-19), the Ministry of Education has said.

The move follows the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, to review the procedures for re-opening public schools.

It is also based on the recommendations of the national medical taskforce following a rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in the Kingdom.

Public schools were scheduled to re-open for the administrative, technical and teaching staff on September 6, but following the postponement decision, they will start the new academic year on September 20.

In its statement, the Ministry of Education said there are no changes to the opening of private schools.