Daily COVID-19 Cases Exceed 2,000, Student Infections Surge... Second Highest Ever

Average of 269 Daily Confirmed Cases from October 21 to 27
360 Cases Confirmed on the 26th, Highest Record Ever
Cluster Infections Occur in 2 Schools in Dangjin and 5 Schools in Gunsan

On the first day of the revised Road Traffic Act, which includes no-parking zones in child protection areas and mandates special traffic safety education for drivers who cause traffic accidents in these zones, students are attending school at an elementary school in Seoul on the 21st. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] As the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases surged nationwide, the number of student cases also increased, with a daily average of 269 cases, marking the second highest ever.

According to the Ministry of Education on the 28th, from the 21st to the 27th of last week, a total of 1,883 students from kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide tested positive for COVID-19, averaging 269 cases per day. Since March 1, the cumulative number of confirmed student cases is 27,121.

The weekly daily average number of confirmed cases is the second highest ever since the fifth week of September (daily average 273.9). The daily average for the previous week (October 14?20) was 204.3, which is 64.7 fewer than this week. On the 26th alone, 360 cases were confirmed, setting a record high.

Cluster infections occurred in schools across the country. In Dangjin, Chungnam, a total of 45 students tested positive at two middle and high schools. In Gunsan, Jeonbuk, 29 student cases were reported across five middle and high schools. The education authorities conducted on-site inspections of the cluster-infected schools and nearby multi-use facilities.

The Ministry of Education will announce on the 29th a phased plan for the gradual return to normalcy in the education sector, including expanded in-person attendance in the metropolitan area and normalization of curricular and extracurricular activities. A Ministry of Education official said, "While overall infection sources and the spread of infection are being considered, the recent increasing trend is unlikely to affect the overall direction."

As of 10 a.m. on the day, out of 20,447 schools nationwide from kindergarten to high school, 98.8% (20,193 schools) were conducting in-person classes. In the metropolitan area, 97.5% of schools held in-person classes, while in non-metropolitan areas, 99.5% did so.

Schools conducting fully remote classes numbered 193 (0.9%), and 61 schools (0.3%) were on discretionary holidays. As of 4 p.m. the previous day, 82.1% (4,871,712) of the 5.94 million students nationwide attended school.

In the past week, 79 staff members tested positive, averaging 11.3 per day. The cumulative number of confirmed staff cases is 2,052.

During the same period, 209 new university student cases and 15 university staff cases were reported, averaging 29.9 students and 2.1 staff per day. Since March, the cumulative number of confirmed university student cases is 10,739, and university staff cases total 796.

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