470 Out-of-School Infections... Ministry of Education Tightens Quarantine Before School Opens

365 Infections at Taekwondo Gym Sports Facility
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If Family Is Quarantined, Test 2 Days Before School Attendance
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On the 8th, as the spread of COVID-19 intensifies mainly in the metropolitan area, students are attending school at an elementary school in Seoul. / Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

The Ministry of Education is strengthening quarantine management to block the spread of infections outside of schools ahead of the expanded return to school in the second semester.

On the 10th, the Ministry of Education discussed these measures with various ministries and metropolitan local governments at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting for COVID-19. This is to prevent a repeat of previous cases where infections originating from facilities outside of schools spread to schools and homes, leading to cluster infections.

As of the first semester this year, a total of 470 students were infected with COVID-19 at facilities other than schools and academies. Among elementary, middle, and high schools, the highest number of infections occurred at sports facilities such as Taekwondo dojangs, soccer clubs, and dance studios (365 cases). This was followed by PC rooms and karaoke rooms (40 cases), and child and youth centers (36 cases). For universities, cases mainly involved spread through multi-use facilities near campuses, restaurants, and gatherings outside of school. A Ministry of Education official stated, "As full in-person classes are gradually implemented in the second semester, we are strengthening the quarantine system within schools, guiding students on personal preventive measures, and emphasizing restraint in using multi-use facilities."

On the 9th, the Ministry of Education revised school quarantine guidelines to minimize remote classes based on epidemiological investigations even if confirmed cases occur. Students whose cohabitants are under self-quarantine must be immediately separated into separate facilities or submit a negative diagnostic test result within two days of their desired return date to attend school. The four weeks before and after the start of the semester have been designated as intensive quarantine weeks for schools and academies, with inspections planned for 650 schools. A mobile PCR testing team will continue to operate to proactively detect asymptomatic and variant virus infections. The Ministry plans to support 50,000 quarantine personnel and, anticipating increased demand due to expanded attendance, aims to support up to 60,000 personnel to strengthen management of vulnerable facilities such as cafeterias and health rooms.

According to the phased school attendance expansion plan announced by the Ministry of Education the previous day, from September 6, even under Level 4, partial attendance of up to two-thirds is allowed instead of full remote classes. From the start of the semester until September 3, elementary grades 1 and 2 and middle school students can attend up to one-third, and high school grades 1 and 2 up to half. Vaccinated high school seniors (grade 3) are excluded from the school density calculation. In Level 3 areas immediately after the semester starts, elementary grades 3 to 6 can attend up to three-quarters, middle school students up to two-thirds, and full attendance is possible for high school students in grades 1 and 2.

From the 6th, full attendance will be implemented in Level 3 areas. Elementary grades 3 to 6 can attend at half capacity or less, middle school students up to two-thirds or less, and high school students either half capacity or full attendance. Attendance decisions can be made autonomously considering local infection situations and school conditions, and home study is allowed for up to 57 days. For the first two weeks after the semester starts, meals will be replaced with simple meals, and ventilation must always be maintained during meals.

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