Superintendent Cho: "We Must Shift from Centralized Testing to a Multi-Testing System"
Considering Pilot Introduction in Boarding Schools with Over 100 Students
Mobile Specimen Preemptive Testing from May... Targeting Nearby and Volunteer Schools with Confirmed Cases
Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of Education for Seoul, is announcing strengthened COVID-19 prevention measures for schools and academies nationwide at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 20th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education is considering temporarily introducing self-diagnostic kits to schools with dormitories housing more than 100 students and schools operating sports teams.
At a press briefing held at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education on the 29th, Superintendent Cho said, "We will actively consider using self-diagnostic kits as an auxiliary measure for dormitory schools or schools operating sports teams with more than 100 people, where group infections are a concern," adding, "I believe we need to shift from a centralized testing system to a multi-testing system."
Superintendent Cho stated, "Two types of self-diagnostic kits have been temporarily approved for three months, and I think the introduction of rapid diagnostic kits is meaningful," but added, "The biggest issue is that the accuracy is below 40%. Since schools must switch to remote classes if confirmed cases occur, we need to be cautious. I hope the health authorities will release self-diagnostic kits with higher accuracy."
Self-diagnostic kits allow students to test themselves. Students living in dormitories can frequently check their infection status during their trips home on weekends. It is expected that the kits can be initially applied to 20 schools in Seoul with more than 100 students.
A Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education official explained, "The number of schools and students to which the kits will be applied will be determined based on the quantity supported by the Seoul city government," adding, "The advantage is that students can perform the tests themselves without professional nurses or staff, and we judged that it has value for auxiliary and limited use about twice a week, such as when going home on Fridays or attending school on Mondays."
Starting in May, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education will also conduct the 'Educational Facility Mobile Specimen Team Preemptive Testing Project,' which involves visiting nearby schools where confirmed cases have occurred or schools requiring preemptive testing to perform polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests.
A Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education official explained, "Schools within a 1 km radius that require or wish to have preemptive testing will be able to receive tests."
Regarding academy quarantine measures, Superintendent Cho said, "The confirmed case at a Gangnam retake academy that occurred yesterday has raised awareness that academy quarantine measures must also be strengthened," adding, "We will expand on-site inspections together with the academy autonomous quarantine teams organized by region and strengthen academy quarantine."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
