Authorities: "Few School Infections... Attendance Needed for Balance Between Quarantine and Daily Life"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] On the 2nd, as the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases remained in the 300s for the third consecutive day, the new school year began for kindergartens and elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide, bringing mixed feelings of anticipation and concern.

From this day, kindergarteners, 1st and 2nd graders in elementary school, and 3rd-year high school students are excluded from the school attendance density (the number of students allowed to attend school out of the total student body) and can attend school every day, while the other grades attend school on alternating weeks or days.

The quarantine authorities stated that student attendance is a measure to achieve a "balance between quarantine and daily life," and they plan to continuously consult with the Ministry of Education to minimize infections at schools.

Yoon Tae-ho, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) quarantine team at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said at a press briefing for reporters, "There have been few cases of cluster infections occurring in schools so far," adding, "However, infections contracted outside and transmitted through schools cannot be ignored."

Regarding concerns about the spread of infections through schools, Yoon said, "It is difficult to apply 100% quarantine measures to social and economic activities," and "the benefits of attending classes in person must also be considered."

He emphasized, "If the strategy was a complete lockdown aiming for zero COVID-19 patients, reopening schools could be risky, but currently, the strategy is not to have zero confirmed cases," and "Because we are pursuing a balance between quarantine and daily life, social benefits and quarantine must be balanced." He explained that considering academic decline and childcare issues, the attendance measure is inevitable.

Yoon added, "Quarantine rules must be strictly managed inside schools, and manpower for quarantine must be supported," and "The education and quarantine authorities are consulting to implement school attendance measures at an appropriate level."