COVID-19 Positive Cases Allowed to Take Exams Under Strict Quarantine Management... Verification of Self-Quarantine and Entry/Exit Status for Examinees
[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] The first written exam for the 2021 national public official level 7 open competitive recruitment will be held simultaneously on the 10th at 81 test centers across 17 cities and provinces nationwide. Amid the spread of COVID-19 cases, about 38,000 candidates are eligible to take the exam.
The Ministry of Personnel Management (Director Kim Woo-ho) announced on the 7th, "In accordance with the newly implemented social distancing system reform (draft) effective from the 1st, thorough quarantine measures have been prepared, and the level 7 open competitive first written exam will be conducted on the 10th."
The exam will be held simultaneously at 81 test centers in 17 cities and provinces nationwide. Successful candidates will be announced on August 18 through the 'Cyber National Examination Center.' This exam attracted 38,947 applicants competing for 815 positions, resulting in an average competition ratio of 47.8 to 1.
The Ministry of Personnel Management is focusing on quarantine management related to COVID-19. Confirmed COVID-19 patients who wish to take the exam can do so at designated hospitals or residential treatment centers after obtaining consent from their attending physician.
The Ministry explained, "Exam supervisors composed of Ministry staff will be dispatched to these facilities to manage and oversee the exam process to ensure it operates under the same procedures as for general examinees," adding, "For those in self-quarantine, arrangements will be made in consultation with quarantine authorities to allow them to take the exam at separate locations."
Furthermore, the Ministry will verify the COVID-19 infection status, self-quarantine status, and travel history of all examinees in cooperation with quarantine authorities and related agencies.
The capacity of each exam room will be operated with fewer than 20 candidates, reduced from the usual 25 to 30. On the exam day, the main entrance of each test center will be unified, and all entrants will undergo a temperature check. Examinees showing fever or respiratory symptoms will take the exam in a separately prepared standby exam room.
Post-exam management measures for examinees and supervisors have also been established. Examinees who show fever or respiratory symptoms on the exam day will have their health status continuously monitored for two weeks.
Seo Han-soon, Director of Talent Recruitment at the Ministry of Personnel Management, stated, "We will do our utmost to ensure a safe and fair exam by adhering to basic quarantine rules," and urged, "We ask examinees to personally comply with social distancing and quarantine guidelines to ensure safe exam operations."
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