[Report] "Worried Our Child Might Catch It"…Anxious Full Return to School

One Week Since Full Return to School in the 'With Corona' Era
Recent Daily Average Student Infections Around 400
"How Can We Watch Our Children Get Sick?" Anxious Parents
Government Intensifies Vaccination Efforts to Prevent Cluster Infections

Parents seeing off their children in front of the main gate of an elementary school in the metropolitan area on the morning of the 1st. / Photo by Juhyung Lim skepped@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] "Have a good day, son!", "Make sure to wear your mask properly."

On the morning of the 1st, the gate of an elementary school in the Seoul metropolitan area was filled with parents seeing off their children. The eyes of those waving to the kids were mixed with worry. Some parents even adjusted their child's mask one last time.

With the start of the 'gradual return to normal life (With Corona)', full in-person attendance at elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide has resumed, but some parents cannot hide their anxious feelings. This is because cluster infections are spreading rapidly among children. Although COVID-19 is known to rarely cause severe symptoms in children, it is not 100% safe, and there is concern about transmitting the infection to other family members.

◆Adjusting masks and checking attire at school gates... thorough quarantine for full in-person attendance

All children attending school were wearing child-sized masks. Some parents gave their children instructions such as "wash thoroughly" and "do not take off your mask except when eating lunch."

The school also strictly enforced quarantine rules. Teachers standing at the main gate checked each student's attire before entry and confirmed whether masks were properly worn before allowing them in.

However, despite such thorough guidance, some parents seeing off their children expressed anxiety. Mrs. A, a woman in her 30s who watched until her son completely disappeared from sight, said, "From what I see on mom cafes, other elementary schools have confirmed cases in neighboring classes almost daily, leading to classroom closures. Although this hasn't happened to my child yet, I am always worried."

◆Daily average of 400 student cases... parents deeply concerned

Earlier, on the 22nd of last month, schools nationwide, including the metropolitan area, implemented full in-person attendance. According to the Ministry of Education, currently 90.6% of students nationwide are attending classes in person. Excluding students who cannot attend due to unavoidable reasons such as COVID-19 infection, normal in-person classes are effectively underway.

Students going to school on a pedestrian overpass in front of an elementary school. / Photo by Juhyung Lim skepped@

However, since full in-person attendance began, cluster infections among students have frequently occurred. From the 25th to the 29th of last month, a total of 2,037 students from kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide tested positive for COVID-19, averaging 407.4 cases per day. This is the first time the daily number of confirmed student cases has exceeded 400.

Given this situation, parents expressed worried reactions, fearing their children might become infected. Mrs. B, a housewife, said, "I've heard that children have mild COVID symptoms, but they are still young. Even a slight fever makes them cry and fuss, so I worry about how I would handle it if they caught COVID."

There were also concerns about children transmitting the virus to other family members. Mr. C, in his 30s, said, "My child's father works in the field, so if he gets sick, he has to take time off work. I'm scared that if my child catches COVID and spreads it to the family, it would be a big problem."

◆Low possibility of severe illness in children but not 100% safe

So far, there is no clear data on how fatal COVID-19 is to children. However, international research suggests that infected children are much less likely than adults to develop severe symptoms or die.

According to data released this year by the American Academy of Pediatrics, less than 2% of children diagnosed with COVID-19 were hospitalized, and among them, fewer than 0.03% experienced symptoms severe enough to threaten life.

However, even with such a low probability, considering the high transmissibility of COVID-19, risks still exist. There have been cases in Korea where infants and children diagnosed with COVID-19 have died.

ICU scene for critically ill COVID-19 patients. / Photo by Yonhap News

On the 28th of last month, a child under 10 who visited the emergency room died and was confirmed positive for COVID-19 immediately after death. Six days earlier, on the 22nd, a pregnant woman at 25 weeks gestation who tested positive for COVID-19 had a premature birth resulting in a stillborn fetus.

Additionally, there is concern that children infected with COVID-19 may transmit the virus to parents, grandparents, and others, leading to further harm.

◆"Full in-person attendance is key to returning to normal life" Government intensifies efforts to expand youth vaccination

The government plans to increase vaccination rates among children and adolescents to prevent cluster infections.

On the 1st, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye and Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Jung Eun-kyung jointly issued a 'Public Appeal for Safe Full In-Person Attendance.'

In the appeal, Deputy Prime Minister Yoo emphasized, "Full in-person attendance is key to returning to normal life. We will strengthen quarantine measures inside and outside schools, increase youth vaccination rates, and prepare emergency plans such as adjusting school density in phases if emergency plans are announced."

To improve accessibility to youth vaccinations, the government will operate an intensive vaccination support period over two weeks from the 13th to the 24th. Vaccinations will be conducted at the school level for schools that wish to participate, and demand surveys for vaccination will be conducted at each school. Health center teams will visit schools directly to administer vaccines.

Furthermore, if emergency plans are activated in the future, the government plans to disperse crowded classes within schools to minimize the possibility of cluster infections. Under the first stage of the emergency plan, attendance density will be reduced to two-thirds in oversized or overcrowded classes.

In the second stage, only three-quarters of grades 3 to 6 in elementary schools and two-thirds of middle and high school students will attend. Quarantine guidelines will also be strengthened, discouraging school events, group activities, and mobile classes. However, even in the second stage, full attendance and care services at kindergartens and special schools will continue as normal.