Infection Rate per 100,000, Twice as High in 50s and 60s
Whole Family Quarantines Common Due to Child Infections
School-Specific Academic Operation Standards Applied from March 3
Attendance or Remote Learning Confirmed Only Shortly Beforehand
On the 20th, when the number of new COVID-19 cases remained in the 100,000s for the third consecutive day, citizens visited the temporary screening clinic at Seoul Station. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@
The surge in COVID-19 cases among young children has cast a red light on the plan for normal school attendance in the new semester. With projections exceeding 200,000 cases in March and a potential explosion in infections among young children, voices are rising to postpone normal school attendance.
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on the 21st, as of the 20th, the COVID-19 incidence rate per 100,000 population is 5,619 for ages 0-9 and 5,822 for ages 10-19. These rates are higher than those for people in their 20s (5,255) and more than double those for people in their 50s (2,511), 60s (2,511), and those aged 80 and above (2,129).
As group infections continue to occur in daycare centers, kindergartens, and schools, it is common for entire families, including parents caring for children, to be quarantined. During the quarantine process, it is also frequent for parents to become additionally infected while taking care of their children.
A parent in their 40s with an elementary school child said, "The spread of COVID-19 is severe, with confirmed cases even in school care classrooms, so talking about educational gaps at this point is meaningless," adding, "Even vaccinated adults are working from home, so postponing full school attendance is the right decision."
A parent who was notified of their kindergarten-aged child's positive diagnosis said, "We wear masks even at home, and sometimes I think it might be better if I get infected together with my child." Parent B, who has a child about to enter first grade, said, "Among mothers, there is even a joking saying that it's better to catch it during the vacation."
Many parents hope to continue in-person classes after more than two years of alternating between attending school and remote learning. A parent of a third-grade elementary student said, "Schools have been closed for two years. We cannot keep sacrificing only the children," adding, "The academic gap has become severe, so I hope full attendance is implemented." Another parent expressed concern, saying, "Even if school attendance starts, I worry that confirmed cases will surge soon after, forcing a switch back to remote classes."
With projections of over 200,000 confirmed cases starting in March, confusion is inevitable in schools at the start of the new semester. As the system shifts to school-led autonomous quarantine measures, decisions on whether to hold in-person classes will be based on the proportion of confirmed and quarantined individuals at each school.
The Ministry of Education will improve the self-diagnosis app starting on the 28th to allow families to input confirmed or quarantine status from home. The academic operation plans applied by each school will take effect the day after the semester begins. On the first day of school, March 2, rapid antigen test kits will be distributed, so all students who are neither confirmed cases nor quarantined must attend school. Different academic operation plans for each school will be applied from March 3, but decisions on in-person or remote classes will only be confirmed close to the start date, leaving parents with little time to prepare.
Criteria for switching entirely to remote classes vary by region. In Seoul, if confirmed cases exceed 3%, attendance suspension exceeds 15%, and local or in-school infections are severe, schools will switch entirely to remote learning. In Busan, full remote classes will be implemented if confirmed cases exceed 5% or attendance suspension exceeds 20%. A Ministry of Education official said, "From March 3, academic operation standards will be applied based on the status of confirmed cases," adding, "Although there are many difficulties, considering the academic gaps caused by two years of not attending school, we can no longer delay in-person attendance."
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