Mokpo A Middle School, 24 Students, Teachers, and Parents Confirmed with COVID-19

Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jun-kyung] A cluster of COVID-19 cases has occurred at a middle school in Mokpo, Jeollanam-do, raising concerns among education authorities.

According to the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education on the 17th, a total of 24 COVID-19 cases were confirmed over two days at Mokpo A Middle School, including 15 students, 1 teacher, and 8 family members of students.

This cluster infection followed the confirmation of COVID-19 in a mother and daughter (Mokpo case numbers 350 and 351) who had attended a relative's wedding in another region on the 6th and 7th.

Subsequently, a classmate of Mokpo case 351 at A Middle School developed symptoms and was tested on the 15th, receiving a positive result the day before.

In response, health authorities conducted mass testing at A Middle School, confirming an additional 12 students and 1 teacher as positive.

Most of the students who tested positive on this day were asymptomatic, raising concerns about silent transmission.

Health authorities have imposed self-quarantine measures on 285 students and staff at A Middle School, and in consultation with education authorities, decided that first-year students will continue remote classes until the 26th, while second- and third-year students will do so until the 19th.

An official from the Provincial Office of Education stated, “Since the implementation of With-Corona policies, managing school quarantine has become very challenging. Especially since most confirmed cases are asymptomatic, they can spread the virus to others,” adding, “With the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) just one day away, we are maintaining vigilance to prepare for any possible situation.”

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