'Temporary Closure Orders' Issued for 32 Schools in Seoul's Songpa, Gangnam, Yangcheon, etc.... Consecutive Reductions in School Days

The Number of Schools Subject to Education Office Closure Orders Expanded to 74

On the 6th, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education issued a closure order for 42 kindergartens, elementary, middle, and high schools in Jungnang-gu and Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, where confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection had visited. A notice informing of the closure is posted on the gate of Samseon Middle School in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education has ordered the closure of 32 kindergartens and elementary, middle, and high schools in Songpa-gu, Gangnam-gu, Yangcheon-gu, and Yeongdeungpo-gu from the 10th to the 19th. As a result, the number of schools in Seoul ordered to close by the education authorities to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) has increased to 74.

On the afternoon of the 7th, the Seoul Office of Education announced, "We have additionally ordered the closure of schools located in areas where confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus live or work nearby." The closure period was decided considering that the confirmed case was diagnosed on the 5th and the incubation period (14 days).

The education office is currently implementing a policy to actively order closures for schools deemed at risk based on a '1 km radius from the confirmed case's movement path.'

However, during this period, care classrooms in kindergartens and elementary schools will continue to operate without disruption.

In addition, the Seoul Office of Education has allowed schools to shorten the number of school days. According to current elementary and secondary education laws, the minimum number of school days is 190 for elementary, middle, and high schools, and 180 for kindergartens, but in unavoidable cases, school principals may reduce the number of school days by up to 10%.

Accordingly, even schools not subject to closure orders are deciding on discretionary closures or advancing the 2019 school year closing ceremonies based on decisions by school principals and school operation committees.

Use of school facilities such as gymnasiums, playgrounds, and classrooms in all schools in Seoul will also be operated with restrictions. New usage permits will not be granted during the regular school term, and if already permitted, usage will be suspended or postponed. However, use of school facilities will be allowed during vacation periods without classes to minimize inconvenience to citizens.

A Seoul Office of Education official said, "We will also intensively conduct infectious disease prevention inspections on densely located academies within the jurisdiction, including Songpa, Gangnam, Yeongdeungpo, and Yangcheon districts, and strongly recommend closure of academies and private tutoring centers where children of confirmed cases or those under active monitoring are enrolled."

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