Yoo Eun-hye "Preparing New Semester Quarantine System and Academic Management Plan Considering Omicron Variant"

Online Consultation with Infectious Disease Experts
"Significant Decrease in COVID-19 Cases Among Under-18s in First Week of January"
"School Quarantine Measures Need Reorganization Considering Omicron and Vaccination Rates"

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye is holding an online advisory meeting with infectious disease experts on the 11th at the Sejong Government Complex video conference room.

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] On the 11th, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye discussed academic operation plans and school quarantine measures considering the spread of the Omicron variant virus with infectious disease experts online.

The advisory meeting included Professor Lee Jae-gap of Hallym University Infectious Diseases, Professor Jung Jae-hoon of Gachon University Preventive Medicine, and Professor Lee Hyun-joo of Seoul National University Pediatrics.

Deputy Prime Minister Yoo said, "Since social distancing was strengthened at the end of last year, the daily number of infections has maintained around 3,000, showing improvement, and the infection situation among those under 18 has significantly decreased to an average daily incidence rate of 11.0 in the first week of January compared to 14.6 in the last week of December."

Yoo added, "Currently, schools at all levels have a reduced risk of group infections within schools according to the winter vacation schedule, except for some care classrooms that are operating. However, there is concern about infection risks as students use multi-use facilities such as academies and PC rooms during the vacation, so management for infection prevention must continue until before the new semester."

He continued, "Ahead of the new semester, there is concern about how the spread of the Omicron variant virus will affect the normal attendance at school, and a thorough review is necessary. The direction of school quarantine response for the new semester needs to be reorganized according to conditions and characteristics, considering the infection status of regions and students, vaccination rates of students and staff, and the spread of variants such as Omicron."

Deputy Prime Minister Yoo stated, "The Ministry of Education plans to prepare a customized ‘school quarantine system’ and ‘academic management plan’ suitable for the upcoming new semester situation," and added, "We will do our best so that children can focus on their studies in a safe environment."