Adjustment of School Attendance Days at 607 Schools Nationwide... Ministry of Education: "No Secondary Infections on Campus Except Confirmed Cases"

251 Schools in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Unable to Hold In-Person Classes
236 Schools in Gumi and Sangju Begin In-Person Classes

Concerns Over Academy-Related Infections Spread
All Ministry of Education Deputy Ministers and Directors Including Vice Minister
Special Inspections Conducted at Academies in the Capital Area

On the 31st, two enrolled students were confirmed positive for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), leading to the closure of Yangji Elementary School in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province. On the 1st, the school gate remained firmly shut. The confirmed students are grandchildren of the pastor of Ilsim Vision Church in Anyang and traveled to Jeju Island from the 25th to the 27th with pastors, church members, and families from 12 churches in the Gunpo and Anyang areas. In particular, after it was confirmed that one of the two confirmed students, a second grader, attended school on the 28th, health and education authorities decided to suspend attendance for two weeks from that day to prevent the spread of the infectious disease and to protect the health of students and staff. Photo by Kim Hyunmin, Anyang. kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] As of 10 a.m. on the 1st, the number of kindergartens and elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide that have adjusted their scheduled in-person class days due to the impact of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) was counted at 607. Among students who underwent diagnostic testing after showing COVID-19 symptoms following in-person attendance, 5 tested positive, and 2 staff members were confirmed positive.

The Ministry of Education announced that as of that morning, schools continuing remote classes and adjusting in-person class days included 251 schools in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province; 153 in Bupyeong and 89 in Gyeyang, Incheon; and 102 in Seoul. Previously, 236 schools, including 181 in Gumi and 4 in Sangju, had started in-person classes, while some regions such as Seoul, Busan, and Gyeongsan newly adjusted their in-person class schedules.

The total number of students confirmed positive after attending school was 5, occurring at Daegu Agricultural Meister High School, Oseong High School, Seoul Sangil Media High School, Busan Naeseong High School, and Gyeonggi Yangji Elementary School. Among staff, one each was confirmed at Baekseok Elementary School and Gyeongsan Science High School in North Gyeongsang Province. The Ministry of Education reported that excluding these confirmed cases, there was no transmission within schools, and no secondary infections occurred. Of the 34,870 students classified as contacts and tested for COVID-19, 30,637 tested negative, and 4,228 are still undergoing testing.

Concerns about infections originating from academies are growing as student infection cases and academy instructor confirmations increase. From February to April, there were 7 student infections linked to academies, but in May alone, the number reached 20. Accordingly, administrative orders to refrain from operating academies were issued in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon areas, and quarantine guidelines were re-communicated to business owners and users.

The Ministry of Education plans to conduct special inspections of academies in the metropolitan area over two days before the third round of in-person classes on the 3rd, deploying the Deputy Minister and all department heads to academy-dense areas.