Once Again the Highest Since Chuseok... 77 Schools in 5 Cities and Provinces Nationwide Unable to Attend Classes

Increased by 7 Schools from 70 the Previous Day
9 Student Confirmed Cases · 4 Staff
4.8% of Universities Fully Remote Classes

On the 27th, students at Seongsu High School in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, were undergoing diagnostic tests at a temporary screening clinic set up on the school premises. A third-year student at the school, who tested positive for COVID-19 on the 26th, is reported to have attended school every weekday last week. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] Due to the impact of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), on the 29th, in-person classes were not held at 77 schools across 5 cities and provinces nationwide.

The Ministry of Education announced that as of 10 a.m. that day, the number of schools that adjusted their in-person class days was tallied as such.

The number of schools suspending in-person classes set a new record after recording 70 schools, the highest since the Chuseok holiday the previous day. The number of schools unable to hold in-person classes was the highest since September 25th (101 schools), before the Chuseok holiday.

COVID-19 is spreading mainly in the Seoul and Gyeonggi areas. By region, Gyeonggi had the most with 49 schools, followed by Seoul with 16, Gangwon with 10, and Gwangju and Chungnam with 1 each.

Since the phased return to school began on May 20th until the previous day, the cumulative number of students confirmed with COVID-19 was 714, an increase of 9 from the day before. The cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 staff was 140, an increase of 4.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education announced that as of the 26th, 16 universities were operating fully remote classes, accounting for 4.8% of the 332 universities and colleges nationwide.

The number of universities conducting fully remote classes decreased by 6 from 22 on the 19th, the Ministry of Education's previous survey. Regarding the duration of fully remote class operation, 7 universities (43.8%) planned for the entire second semester, 5 universities (31.3%) indefinitely, and 3 universities (18.8%) until the end of October.

From the 21st to the 27th of this month, new confirmed COVID-19 cases in universities were 12 students and 6 staff members.