The new spring semester will begin as scheduled across China as the COVID-19 situation is stable, an official from the Ministry of Education said.

Liu Peijun, deputy director of the Department of Physical Health and Art Education, told a news conference on Thursday that education bureaus and schools nationwide have geared up for the new semester.

"Schools will not open early if everything runs well and students should not delay their return to school if there is no risk of outbreak," Liu said.

Schools this spring opened or will open between the Lantern Festival and Feb 28, he said.

Education departments will set up more clinics, health rooms and health stations at schools and stock up anti-epidemic materials such as drugs and masks.