Prime Minister Jeong: "Concerns Over Learning Gaps in Remote Classes... Preparing New Semester Quarantine Strategy"

Presided over the COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Meeting on the 23rd
Weekend Worship Resumes... "Religious Community, Please Set an Example in Quarantine"

Prime Minister Jeong Sye-kyun. / Photo by Jin-hyeong Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said on the 23rd, "Educational authorities must take a step ahead to prepare for the learning gap caused by remote classes."

At the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting on COVID-19 held at the Government Seoul Office on the same day, Prime Minister Chung said, "As remote classes continue, there are concerns about the learning gap among vulnerable children."

He added, "With the new semester just about a month away, students and parents are experiencing mixed feelings of hope and worry about whether in-person classes can proceed normally this spring."

He continued, "According to a recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO), children and adolescents have a lower COVID-19 infection rate than adults, and even if infected, many cases are mild or asymptomatic."

Earlier, Jeong Eun-kyung, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, revealed in a paper published on December 27 last year in collaboration with the Department of Social Medicine at Hallym University College of Medicine that "only about 2% of confirmed COVID-19 cases among children and adolescents were infected through schools."

According to the paper, the total number of confirmed domestic cases during the study period was 13,417, with 7.2% of cases aged 0-19 years, and there was no difference before and after school closures.

Prime Minister Chung said, "Although remote classes are prolonged, this year must be different," and urged, "The Ministry of Education should consult with health authorities to prepare in advance the new semester's class methods and school quarantine strategies."

He added, "In preparation for unavoidable remote classes, please ensure the quality of lessons is improved and the gap reduced by expanding communication between teachers and students and steadily enhancing infrastructure."

As weekend worship services, Buddhist ceremonies, and Masses are expected to resume, he also requested the religious community to participate in quarantine efforts.

Prime Minister Chung said, "The government will communicate more closely with religious groups and do its best to manage on-site quarantine so that the resumed religious activities do not become a cause of infection spread."

He said, "I earnestly ask all Korean denominations and believers to join forces and become a model for quarantine."