Two Jeonnam Office of Education Employees Infected with COVID-19, Criticized for Delayed Response

Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jun-kyung] Amid a COVID-19 infection among Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education staff, complacent responses and delayed measures have come under scrutiny.

According to the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education on the 19th, following the confirmation of employee A from the General Affairs Department on the 16th, a colleague, employee B, was additionally confirmed positive on the same day.

It is known that employee B was infected through close contact with parent A of a confirmed student at Mokpo Yudal Middle School.

Although employee B tested negative in a full screening three days prior, the recent positive result has exposed the Office of Education’s complacent attitude at the time, drawing criticism.

The Office of Education confirmed that on the 16th, when employee A was confirmed positive, testing was conducted only on employees who had close contact with A and about 150 other staff members.

After employee B’s positive diagnosis on the day, the Office hastily conducted tests on all 500 staff members, leading to criticism that a full screening should have been conducted three days earlier as well.

An official from the Office of Education stated, “Employee B had completed the second dose of the vaccine and initially tested negative, so we were reassured, but suddenly tested positive. After the first confirmed case, tests were conducted not only on the relevant department but also on the Administration and Finance Departments, following the quarantine authorities’ instructions.”

The Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education plans to fully close the main office for the time being and have all employees work from home.

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