One Day Before School Starts... Authorities Say "Even If Patients Appear, Calm and Swift Response Will Lead to Victory"

One Day Until High School Seniors Return to School…Authorities Say "School-Related Specimens to Be Tested as Top Priority"
"Even if Infections Occur Among Students, Please Avoid Prejudice and Discrimination…Pathogen Load Is Low"

On the 19th, one day before the return to school for third-year high school students, a homeroom teacher is placing quarantine supplies on desks in a classroom at Seongnam High School in Dongjak-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] With the return to school for high school seniors just one day away, quarantine authorities anticipate that some confusion will be inevitable if confirmed cases of COVID-19 emerge early in the school reopening. However, they are meticulously implementing quarantine measures to prevent exposure to infection sources in advance, and have requested diagnostic testing agencies to prioritize testing specimens from students and school personnel to enable a more prompt response.

On the 19th, Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Director of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, stated at a regular briefing, "We have requested COVID-19 diagnostic testing agencies to prioritize testing specimens from high school students and school personnel and to promptly notify the results."

He also said, "We have established a cooperative system among related organizations by quickly sharing information related to the spread of COVID-19 and enabling responses, including forming a 'hotline' between educational institutions and public health centers and pre-organizing epidemiological investigation response teams."

On the 19th, one day before the return to school for third-year high school students, members of the Saemaeul Leaders Association are conducting disinfection work at Yeouido High School in Seoul to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Quarantine and education authorities have urged frontline educational sites to strictly adhere to quarantine guidelines ahead of the scheduled return to school for high school seniors starting on the 20th. Deputy Director Kwon said, "The actual situation we are experiencing for the first time begins tomorrow," adding, "We are prepared for the possibility of some confusion."

He continued, "This period should be one where issues arising early in the reopening are calmly, steadily, and simultaneously addressed and promptly supplemented. Eventually, confirmed cases will be found among students or teachers, and initial confusion and anxiety are unavoidable. However, just as we have calmly and swiftly responded to COVID-19 in other fields and locations, we can overcome this in schools through thorough preparation, infection control, and rapid response," he emphasized.

He also stressed the importance of not discriminating against students even if confirmed or suspected cases arise. Deputy Director Kwon said, "If infections occur in schools, we all should act with the mindset of being parents ourselves, taking special care that students identified as confirmed or suspected cases are not subjected to prejudice or stigma in words or actions," and added, "Please be careful so that we fight only the pathogen as the enemy, and that young students do not face discrimination."

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