54,000 School Quarantine Support Personnel Deployed... Free Diagnostic Testing for Dormitory Residents

Yoo Eun-hye Checks School Opening Preparations with Jung Eun-kyung... "Aware of Concerns over Expanding In-Person Attendance"

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye is attending the 'Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters Meeting for COVID-19 Response' held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 5th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] A total of 54,000 personnel will be deployed to support COVID-19 school quarantine efforts. Additionally, dormitory residents of nationwide recruitment schools will receive free COVID-19 diagnostic tests before the new semester begins.

On the 21st, the Ministry of Education announced that Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye held a video conference with Director Jeong Eun-kyeong of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) at the government Seoul office to review school quarantine measures in preparation for the new semester and discuss support plans for schools.

Deputy Prime Minister Yoo and Director Jeong confirmed that 54,000 personnel have been assigned as dedicated school quarantine support staff ahead of the new semester opening on the 2nd of next month.

Regarding quarantine supplies in schools, it was confirmed that 11 masks per student and 12 bottles of hand sanitizer per class have been stocked.

Furthermore, they confirmed that the school quarantine guidelines, which include common rules to be followed at schools and emergency response procedures, have been supplemented and communicated. They urged students, parents, and school staff to strictly adhere to quarantine rules outside of school, such as the prohibition of private gatherings of five or more people.

Students will be able to check their health status via a smartphone application starting one week before the semester begins, and the first two weeks after the semester starts will be designated as a special COVID-19 monitoring period.

Deputy Prime Minister Yoo and Director Jeong also decided to provide proactive free testing for dormitory residents of nationwide recruitment schools.

Dormitory residents must undergo COVID-19 diagnostic testing before entering the dormitory.

If social distancing measures are at level 2.5 or higher, additional periodic diagnostic tests must be conducted.

Deputy Prime Minister Yoo and Director Jeong agreed to hold regular meetings of the "Ministry of Education-KDCA Consultative Council" until in-person classes stabilize.

Additionally, the Ministry of Education has developed an "Emotional and Physical Health Diagnostic Tool" for parents to help students adapt to the new school year, which can be administered before attending school.

Starting in March after the semester begins, experts will visit schools directly to provide support services for students vulnerable to mental health issues.

Along with metropolitan and provincial offices of education, inspections are underway to check the preparedness of schools regarding quarantine and safety management.

Deputy Prime Minister Yoo stated, "We fully understand the concerns and worries of parents who are apprehensive about expanding in-person classes. We will make every effort to ensure that our students can continue their learning safely by closely communicating and cooperating with quarantine authorities, related ministries, metropolitan and provincial education offices, and schools."