All universities, middle and primary schools and kindergartens in Beijing will postpone the upcoming spring semester in order to prevent the novel coronavirus from spreading, deputy head of the Beijing Municipal Commission of Education Li Yi announced at a media conference on Sunday.

Off-line after-school training businesses in Beijing will also be suspended to prevent virus infections during the outbreak according to a statement from the commission, which will send additional notice when the time is right to re-open the institutions.

The local education commission asked school students to stay at home during the special period, and will provide recorded courses that can be watched online or via cable television, the statement read.

Students need to report their physical condition every day. Teachers are required to provide necessary psychological counseling to the students and call them regularly to check on their situation, it added.