The H1N1 virus continued to ravage Hong Kong as 60 new cases were confirmed on Tuesday, bringing the total rally to 408, up an astonishing 324.5% over a 10-day period since June 14.

Sixty new cases were confirmed in the 24 hours up to 2.30pm, involving 35 males and 25 females, aged between three and 65, Controller of the Centre for Health Protection Dr Thomas Tsang said on Tuesday.

Primary schools, kindergartens, kindergartens/childcare centers and special schools will not resume classes in this school year, to prevent human swine flu outbreaks among children.

Secretary for Education Michael Suen said secondary schools, apart from those which have already suspended classes, can advance their summer break from tomorrow if they have finished all their final examinations.

As classes of all primary schools will not resume in this school year, schools can conduct primary five second-term examinations in late June or early July based on the guidelines issued by the Department of Health.

Although classes of kindergartens and kindergartens/ childcare centers will not be resumed during the remainder of the school year, the Government will continue to provide subsidy under the Primary School Education Voucher Scheme and calculations will be based on the total number of students as at June 11.

Controller of the Centre for Health Protection Dr. Tsang said the centre will review the school-closure strategy before a new school term starts in September.

Medicine