[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Park Neung-hoo, the first deputy head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Minister of Health and Welfare), emphasized on the 26th, one day before the additional school reopening, that "the most important thing now is to block the link of infection between schools and local communities."
Deputy Head Park said at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting held at the Government Complex Sejong, "Starting tomorrow, the reopening of schools for 2nd-year high school students, 3rd-year middle school students, 1st and 2nd graders in elementary school, and kindergartens will begin," and made these remarks.
The government notes that although the number of confirmed cases related to the Itaewon clubs has remained around 10 over the past five days, sporadic infections continue within local communities, so vigilance cannot be relaxed.
Deputy Head Park stated, "The Ministry of Education and quarantine authorities will carefully re-examine the necessary improvements identified in previous in-person classes to create an environment where students can attend school with peace of mind."
He added, "If the spread of infection that started in the local community is not controlled, students' in-person classes will be threatened, and if proper quarantine is not carried out in schools that have resumed in-person classes, both our families and local communities will be at risk."
At the meeting, the government also discussed quarantine measures for undocumented residents, who are considered a vulnerable group in terms of quarantine. To prevent another group infection, the plan is to encourage undocumented residents, who have difficulty accessing medical services, to receive diagnostic tests without notification from the Ministry of Justice. Quarantine authorities currently estimate that there are about 390,000 undocumented residents.
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