"Please Consider Postponing School Opening" Petition from Parents to Education Office Amid Wuhan Pneumonia Spread

On the 27th, a petition titled "(Urgent) Please consider postponing the school opening period" was posted on the Citizen Petition Board on the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education website. Photo by Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education website screen capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] As the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) that originated in Wuhan, China spreads worldwide, the fourth confirmed case has been reported domestically. Parents with children about to start school have launched a petition urging the postponement of the school opening.

On the 27th, a petition titled "(Urgent) Please consider postponing the school opening date" was posted on the citizen petition board on the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education website.

The petitioner, who introduced themselves as a "parent of an elementary school student," began by saying, "I am petitioning because of the Wuhan coronavirus issue."

The petitioner stated, "Due to this virus, Beijing, China, is focusing on infection prevention by extending the university vacation period," and added, "Concerns about possible infection incidents at the time of school opening are growing in Seoul communities."

They continued, "Although there may be complaints about disruption to the education schedule and extension of the vacation, I think the risk should be reduced even if the vacation is extended."

They said, "As a working parent, I am burdened by increased costs due to delayed school opening and education, but I believe controlling the infection outbreak should be the priority," and emphasized again, "Please consider postponing the school opening."

The petition had gained over 2,200 supporters by 11 a.m. on the 28th, just one day after being posted.

In addition, other petitions urging the postponement of school opening, such as "Coronavirus, request to extend elementary school vacation," "Please delay the school opening due to coronavirus," and "School closure due to novel coronavirus," have also been posted on the citizen petition board.

On the afternoon of the 27th, when the fourth domestic confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection, known as 'Wuhan pneumonia,' was reported, a foreign tourist was leaving a pharmacy in Myeongdong, Jung-gu, after purchasing a box of masks.
Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, said in opening remarks at an emergency meeting of department heads held at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education at 9 a.m. on the 28th, "Unlike the initial stage, the situation has become very serious after the holidays," and added, "We may need to consider postponing the school opening, so it is necessary to keep all possibilities open and conduct a broad review."

He continued, "It seems that the level of management for students and staff who visited Wuhan, China, has been exceeded," and said, "We may need to consider expanding this to include students and staff who have visited China in general, not just Wuhan."

He also said, "We had set the principle that masks should be worn only when coughing during school attendance, but we need to respond by having everyone wear masks without exception for a certain period," and urged, "Handwashing has become an urgent task for survival. Let's make handwashing a daily habit this time."

Meanwhile, 423 daycare centers in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, where the fourth confirmed case was reported, have been ordered to temporarily close from the 28th to the 31st.

According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the 27th, the fourth confirmed case of Wuhan pneumonia is a 55-year-old Korean man who returned on the 20th after visiting Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.

The patient visited a domestic medical institution on the 21st with symptoms such as a cold, received treatment, and was diagnosed with pneumonia at a public health center screening clinic on the 26th, being classified as a suspected case with symptoms under investigation. He was then isolated in a nationally designated inpatient treatment bed (Bundang Seoul National University Hospital) on the same day and was confirmed positive on the 27th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.