On the 27th of last month, disinfection company personnel were conducting internal disinfection work at Asan Engineering Hall, Ewha Womans University in Seoul. On the 25th, a family member of a student who visited Asan Engineering Hall was confirmed positive for COVID-19, leading to the closure of the building and restriction of access inside the building. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@
[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] It has been revealed that a total of 13 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) have occurred at domestic universities.
According to the Korea Council for University Education (KCUE) on the 1st, as of this day, 7 university students, 3 graduate students, 1 Chinese international student, 1 professor, and 1 university staff member residing in a university apartment have been confirmed positive for COVID-19 at domestic universities. Notably, on this day, a Chinese international student attending Catholic Kwandong University in Gangneung was confirmed positive.
The names of seven universities have been disclosed in total. They include a professor from Pusan National University, a graduate student from Seoul National University, a university staff member residing in an apartment at Korea Polytechnic University Gumi Campus, an undergraduate student at Sungkyunkwan University Natural Science Campus (Suwon), a graduate student at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), a Chinese international student at Catholic Kwandong University, and an undergraduate student at Andong University.
Additionally, three university students from the Daegu area, one university student from the Ulsan area, one university student from the Gyeongju area, and one graduate student from the Daejeon area have been reported as confirmed cases. They were found to be attending universities in those regions or residing there.
The Ministry of Education has stated that Chinese international students entering through special airport entry procedures should be considered asymptomatic and have been instructed to stay in university dormitories or one-room apartments. The confirmed international student entered the country on the 28th of last month through the special entry procedure at Incheon Airport, and was tested at the Gangneung Asan Hospital screening clinic via a bus arranged by the school; at that time, the student was asymptomatic. Two days later, on this day, the student received the final positive test result while in the dormitory.
According to the Ministry of Education, about 9,000 Chinese students are expected to enter the country this week. It is known that approximately 33,000 Korean university students are still staying in China. Although the education ministries of both countries have agreed to discourage international student departures, students who have already planned their studies are expected to enter as scheduled.
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