Extension of School Opening by 2 Weeks at 800 Daegu Preschools, Elementary, Middle, and High Schools Due to COVID-19 Spread (Comprehensive)

One-Week Delay Extended by Two More Weeks... School Opens on March 23

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Due to concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), all kindergartens and schools in the Daegu area will postpone the start of the semester by an additional two weeks.

The Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education announced on the 29th that the opening of 800 kindergartens, elementary, middle, high, and special schools, originally scheduled for the 9th of next month, will be postponed further to the 23rd. This includes 341 kindergartens and 459 elementary, middle, high, and special schools.

Earlier, on the 20th, as COVID-19 rapidly spread centered around Daegu, the Daegu Office of Education was the first in the country to postpone the semester start by one week.

However, with the semester start just a week away, the COVID-19 spread trend has not subsided and is expected to continue for some time. To prevent infection transmission among students due to contact during the semester start and to minimize parents' concerns, an additional two-week postponement was decided. The Office of Education explained that it consulted with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health and Welfare to postpone the semester start.

The total number of closure days due to the additional postponement is 15 days, allowing for closure without reducing the number of instructional days. Schools plan to secure the legally required instructional days by postponing the annual academic schedule and adjusting vacation days.

Additionally, the Daegu Office of Education, recognizing the urgency of the situation despite kindergartens and elementary schools being closed, is accepting additional care applications to provide emergency care, and has prepared measures such as learning support and life guidance at all school levels to ensure there is no learning gap during the closure period.

During the closure period, all schools will strengthen disinfection and quarantine activities and expand hygiene supplies such as hand sanitizers to ensure there are no disruptions in preparation for the new semester.

Kang Eun-hee, Superintendent of Daegu Education, said, "The Daegu Office of Education and schools are making every effort to minimize learning gaps caused by the postponement and to protect students' safety and health from COVID-19," and added, "We ask all households to thoroughly follow the national action guidelines to protect students' health during the closure period."

Since the first COVID-19 patient was confirmed in Daegu on the 18th, the number of patients has surged, and as of 9 a.m. on the 29th, 2,055 people have been confirmed positive.