Gwanak-gu, All Instructors at Nanwoo Elementary Test Negative in Proactive Response to Confirmed Case

Installation of Mobile Screening Clinic at Nanwoo Elementary School on the 28th... All 145 Students and Staff Test Negative... Prompt Response by District, School, and Education Office and Exemplary Adherence to COVID-19 Prevention Measures Prevent Further Infections

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Junhee) drew attention on the 27th for protecting the safety of all students, faculty, and staff by blocking additional infections through a prompt and systematic response to the confirmation of a part-time instructor at Nanwoo Elementary School testing positive for COVID-19.

The confirmed case of the part-time instructor at Nanwoo Elementary School is identified as Gwanak-gu case number 111, who is believed to have contracted COVID-19 after attending a service at Wangseong Church on June 21.

On the 27th, the school immediately notified students and parents via text and phone calls to prohibit going out and to stay at home upon confirmation of the case, and decided to suspend in-person attendance for all students on the 29th and switch to remote classes.

On the same day, the district deployed the Seoul Metropolitan Epidemiological Investigation Team to conduct an epidemiological investigation to identify contacts and movement routes of the confirmed case, while simultaneously disinfecting the school. The school provided information on the current status, the timetable for the relevant day, and the number and list of students.

The epidemiological investigation found that all students and faculty strictly adhered to ▲temperature checks upon school entry ▲mask-wearing inside the school ▲social distancing in classrooms, resulting in no close contacts within the school. However, Gwanak-gu decided to proactively set up a mobile screening clinic within the school to conduct COVID-19 testing to ensure student safety and alleviate parental concerns.

Accordingly, from 10 a.m. on the 28th, a mobile screening clinic was set up at the Nanwoo Elementary School playground for about two hours, where specimens were collected from a total of 145 individuals, including students from 4th grade classes 1 to 3, 5th grade classes 1 to 3 who attended the classes of case number 111, and 9 teachers.

The testing on the day proceeded quickly and orderly thanks to the smooth cooperation of students, parents, and school officials, and on the morning of the 29th, all 145 students and faculty tested negative.

At around 8 a.m. on the 29th, all tested individuals were notified of their negative COVID-19 results via text message, and as scheduled, in-person attendance for all students remained suspended with remote classes continuing.

Since May 20, Gwanak-gu has established a close cooperative system among the Office of Education, schools, and the district office to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and alleviate the concerns of parents and students amid the phased return to in-person classes at elementary, middle, and high schools in the area.

Accordingly, it is judged that the prompt and systematic response was possible through organic cooperation among institutions despite the first confirmed COVID-19 case within the school.

Mayor Park Junhee said, “I am relieved that there were no additional infections thanks to the exemplary adherence to COVID-19 prevention guidelines by the students, principal, and faculty of Nanwoo Elementary School,” and added, “I thank the parents, students, and school officials who cooperated to ensure the testing was conducted orderly and swiftly on the day, and I wish the instructor a speedy recovery.”

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