Seoul Jungnang-gu and Seongbuk-gu 42 Kindergartens, Elementary, Middle, and High Schools Emergency Closure (Comprehensive)

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Hyun-seok] The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced on the 5th that it has ordered the closure of 42 kindergartens, elementary, middle, and high schools in Jungnang-gu and Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, where confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) had visited, from the 6th to the 13th of this month.

Although there have been cases where individual schools in Seoul voluntarily closed due to concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus, this is the first time the Office of Education has issued an official closure order.

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education explained that the areas subject to the closure order are places where confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus reside or have moved/stayed. The total number of schools ordered to close is 42, including 5 kindergartens and elementary schools near the residence of the 5th confirmed patient, and 37 kindergartens, elementary, middle, and high schools within a 1 km radius of the location where this patient stayed for an extended period.

Among the 42 schools subject to closure, 38 are newly closing, while the remaining 4 have already been closed voluntarily.

The closure period was decided to be from the 6th to the 13th of this month, considering the 14-day incubation period after the confirmed patient's diagnosis date (January 30) who visited the area.

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