Half of First Semester Student COVID-19 Cases Are 'Household Infections'

17.9 to 61.5 Infections per 100,000 Students in 1st Semester
Ministry of Education: "Schools Are Not the Main Infection Route"

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] An analysis of COVID-19 infection routes among students in the first semester revealed that half of the infections occurred within households.

On the 5th, the Ministry of Education announced the results of an analysis on student COVID-19 infection trends from March to July 2021, commissioned to Professor Choi Eunhwa of Seoul National University.

The analysis of infection routes in the first semester showed that household infections accounted for the highest proportion at 48.7%, followed by community infections at 22.6%. Infections within schools were the lowest at 15.9%. The infection route proportions for the first semester were similar to those in the second half of last year.

The Ministry of Education explained, "The analysis of infection routes shows that the order of household, community, and school infections remains consistent, with non-school settings still showing higher rates, similar to the second half of last year. Schools continue to have a lower incidence rate compared to the community and are not the primary infection route for school-age children."

The COVID-19 incidence rate among students in the first semester ranged from 17.9 to 61.5 cases per 100,000 people. The overall incidence rate per 100,000 population was between 26.5 and 81.1. Among the total population, children aged 0-9 accounted for 5.5%, and those aged 10-19 accounted for 8.8%. Since June, when the fourth wave began, community infections increased, leading to a corresponding rise in student infections.

There was a tendency for infection rates to increase with higher school levels. Examining COVID-19 incidence rates by school level from May last year to July this year (cases per 100,000), the figures were ▲Kindergarten 173 ▲Elementary school 223 ▲Middle school 249 ▲High school 269.

Deputy Minister Jeong Jongcheol held a meeting with vice superintendents of metropolitan and provincial offices of education to share the situation based on expert analysis results and urged them to make every effort to prevent infections and ensure school safety.

Deputy Minister Jeong said, "As the second semester begins, it is a time when efforts from schools, communities, and families are more necessary than ever to ensure our students can have a safe school life free from COVID-19."