564 Student Confirmed Cases in One Day... Yoo Eun-hye "High Infection Rate Among Elementary and Middle School Students"

November 29 - December 5 Student Confirmed Cases Exceed 500 per Day
Middle School Student Cases Increase from 7.7 in Week 1 to 10.6 in Week 5 of November
Elementary Student Cases Rise from 5.7 to 10.3

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye held a meeting with superintendents of education from across the country to request cooperation for full in-person attendance and vaccination of children and adolescents.

On the 6th, Deputy Prime Minister Yoo held a video conference at the Korea Educational Facilities Safety Institute located in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, to listen to opinions from each city and province regarding stable academic operations at the end of the semester and support measures for youth vaccination.

According to the Ministry of Education, a total of 3,948 student COVID-19 cases were reported over the week from the 29th of last month to the 5th, averaging 564 cases per day. This is the first time daily confirmed cases have exceeded 500. In particular, on the 1st, 698 student cases were reported nationwide, marking the highest daily number of student infections ever recorded.

The number of confirmed student cases by school level over the week is as follows: ▲Kindergarten 301 ▲Elementary school 1,957 ▲Middle school 1,262 ▲High school 400 ▲Others 28.

Deputy Prime Minister Yoo stated, "Student cases have been continuously increasing since the first week of November, currently averaging 564 per day," and added, "The proportion of confirmed cases among those aged 18 and under accounts for about 20% of the total cases."

She further explained, "While the trend of confirmed cases among students aged 16-17, corresponding to high school grades 1 and 2, whose vaccination completion rate has risen to 64.8%, continues to decline, the infection rates in middle and elementary schools have increased," adding, "Middle school cases rose from 7.7 per week in the first week of November to 10.6 in the fifth week, and elementary school cases increased from 5.7 to 10.3 in the same period, which is a concerning situation."

The Ministry of Education will operate a concentrated vaccination support week from the 13th to the 24th and promote 'school-unit visiting vaccination.' Deputy Prime Minister Yoo requested cooperation from education offices for parental guidance and prior demand surveys.

Deputy Prime Minister Yoo emphasized, "Vaccination is the most effective preventive measure to protect our youth themselves, their families, and the entire community," and urged, "The government earnestly asks students and parents to actively participate in vaccination."

She also stressed, "We ask schools and education offices to actively cooperate to improve vaccination accessibility and provide sufficient information about vaccination to students and parents," adding, "At this critical time, active participation in vaccination by children and adolescents is essential to mitigate the current high risk of infection and ensure school safety."