Jung Se-kyun "Proactive Adjustment of School Attendance Dates if Crisis Situation Detected" (Update)

"Blocking School Infection Chains is Top Priority"
Sequential Return to School Completed with Grades 1 Middle School and 5-6 Elementary School Attendance

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun is presiding over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting for COVID-19 response at the Government Seoul Office Building on the afternoon of the 7th, a holiday. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lim Juhyung] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun stated on the 8th, regarding the completion of the 4th phase of in-person classes, that "if a crisis situation is detected, we will proactively adjust the school attendance days."

In a post on Facebook that day, Prime Minister Chung said, "We will do our best to quickly conduct epidemiological investigations and diagnostic tests to prevent the spread of infection, with the top priority being to block the chain of infection to schools."

He continued, "I would like to express my gratitude to the quarantine authorities and education officials who have worked tirelessly to ensure the safety and learning rights of children, and especially to the parents and students who have endured various inconveniences and complied with quarantine rules," adding, "Although there have been many difficulties, we were able to open the school doors thanks to the active participation and help of the people."

He also emphasized, "At home, you actively participated in remote education, which may have been somewhat unfamiliar and inconvenient, and even now, you cooperate in quarantine management by conducting daily self-diagnosis of students before attending school," stressing, "The ability to hold in-person classes is a precious achievement made possible by schools and families working together as one."

Regarding the ongoing local infections of the novel coronavirus centered in the metropolitan area, he said, "Parents may have worries and anxieties," but added, "Fortunately, there have been no infections at schools yet."

He further stated, "To ensure safe in-person classes, it is essential to strictly follow quarantine and hygiene rules within schools, and there must be no negligence in quarantine outside of schools, such as in PC rooms and academies," urging, "The government and local governments will tighten quarantine measures firmly, so students and parents should also pay special attention."

Meanwhile, starting today, 1.35 million students nationwide, including first-year middle school students and 5th to 6th graders in elementary school, will return to school. This 4th phase of in-person classes is the final stage following the return of 3rd-year high school students on the 20th of last month and 1st-year high school, 2nd-year middle school, and 3rd to 4th-grade elementary students on the 3rd.

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