With Corona Crisis, Jeonnam Students and Staff 'Confirmed Cases Surge'

On the morning of the 21st, the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education held an emergency expanded executive meeting chaired by Superintendent Jang Seok-woong to discuss infection response measures. Photo by Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jun-kyung] After the implementation of With-Corona, COVID-19 infections among students have been rapidly increasing in schools across Jeonnam Province, prompting health authorities to remain on high alert.

According to the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education on the 21st, as of 10 p.m. the previous day, a total of 85 students tested positive in 34 schools in the Jeonnam area since the With-Corona policy was implemented in November. This includes 1 kindergarten student, 37 elementary school students, 37 middle school students, and 10 high school students.

It is known that the cluster infections within schools occurred through contact with confirmed students who had visited other regions or came from other regions.

The impact extended to the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education itself, where 5 employees at the headquarters were infected with COVID-19. In response, the Office has restricted access to the building and plans to have all employees work from home until the 23rd, except in cases where on-site work is unavoidable.

On the morning of the 21st, the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education held an emergency expanded executive meeting chaired by Superintendent Jang Seok-woong to discuss infection response measures.

During the meeting, it was decided that departments with confirmed COVID-19 cases would be relocated to separate office spaces, and the operation of the cafeteria would be temporarily suspended.

An official from the Office stated, “To prevent further COVID-19 infections, all offices in the education office building are being disinfected daily. We strongly recommend proactive PCR testing for all students and staff in the province, and have requested city and county education offices and frontline schools to guide individuals to immediately refrain from attending school or work if symptoms are detected through self-diagnosis before going to school or work.”

Superintendent Jang Seok-woong said, “Although With-Corona has begun and a phased return to normal life is underway, the recent spread of COVID-19 infections is a very serious situation. Especially with the increased movement of students after the college entrance exam, there is a high risk of infection, so I urge everyone to remain vigilant and ensure thorough quarantine management.”

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