Among 50-Year-Old Male Confirmed Cases, Middle and High School Children Test 'Negative'
Weekend Classes Halted in Mokdong Academy District Following Family Cluster Infection
Amid the spread of the novel coronavirus infection, the government has postponed the start of the new semester for elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide by two weeks. On the 3rd, the academy district in Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, appeared quiet. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@
[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] "When it was announced that a confirmed patient had middle and high school children, the parents' group chat was in an uproar. They were asking if the kids were okay, which academies they attended..."
On the 8th, when news broke that a 50-year-old man, Mr. A, in Daechi-dong, Gangnam, Seoul?a district densely packed with academies?tested positive for COVID-19, local residents remained on high alert throughout the night until the next day. According to Asia Economy's investigation, Mr. A's wife and two children tested negative.
According to Gangnam District Office on the 9th, Mr. A's family underwent COVID-19 testing at the Gangnam Public Health Center the previous day and received negative results that morning. A parent living in Daechi-dong said, "Even academies that insisted on continuing normal classes despite the closure orders sent emergency closure notices at 10 p.m., spreading anxiety rapidly among parents. Many parents who had recently sent their children to academies or participated in small-group classes must have been very shocked."
In Yangcheon District, the announcement that a 51-year-old woman, Ms. B (the third confirmed patient in Yangcheon), living in an apartment in Mok-dong, tested positive on the afternoon of the 6th led to a complete halt of academy classes. Ms. B's daughter and husband were also confirmed positive the next day. Since their movements covered the Mok-dong academy area and shopping districts, there is concern about infections among local residents and students.
A parent from the area said, "Although all confirmed patients are adults, they were reported to have frequently visited the academy areas, so there is a possibility of contact with students or academy staff. All academies locked their doors and consecutively canceled weekend classes," they reported.
Despite the unprecedented situation where the start of all schools nationwide was postponed by three weeks to prevent the spread of COVID-19, it remains uncertain whether schools can open normally on the 23rd. The education sector views the early part of this week as a critical turning point that will determine this year's academic schedule, considering the two-week incubation period of COVID-19.
The Ministry of Education plans to reduce the number of school days within 10% of the legally mandated days (kindergarten 180 days, elementary to high school 190 days) if the school opening is delayed up to five weeks (16 to 34 days of closure). However, this would inevitably disrupt the university entrance schedules for high school seniors.
An education official said, "Although the number of new confirmed cases in Daegu and Gyeongbuk has slightly decreased, the situation is still worsening, so considering the 14-day incubation period, we cannot be complacent yet. The government is likely to decide on further postponements of school openings depending on the situation in each region," they predicted.
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