Seoul Student Cases Confirmed at 1,450... Cho Hee-yeon "Rapid Increase in Elementary and Middle School Student Cases" (Summary)

1450 Students Confirmed Positive, 360 More Than Last Week
Group Vaccinations at Schools and Health Centers Planned After Vaccine Demand Survey by 9th
Most Cases in Elementary Schools with 793, Followed by 359 in Middle Schools

On the morning of the 22nd, after more than two years since the COVID-19 pandemic began, kindergartens and elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide started full in-person attendance, and students are arriving at an elementary school in Seoul. Photo by Joint Press Corps

The number of student COVID-19 cases reported in Seoul over the past week reached 1,450, an increase of 360 from the previous week. The education authorities are conducting a vaccination preference survey through a self-diagnosis app and plan to implement group vaccinations at schools or public health centers after final exams conclude.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education on the 7th, from the 29th of last month to the 5th of this month, the number of confirmed cases among kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school students in Seoul was 1,450, with 104 confirmed cases among staff members.

Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, stated at a briefing, "During the special quarantine period from the 6th to January 2nd, there are schedules requiring school attendance such as final exams and university entrance application submissions, so we are responding to prevent the spread of infections within schools." He added, "The number of confirmed cases among elementary and middle school students is rapidly increasing compared to high school students, so the wisdom and cooperation of students and parents are necessary."

The number of students infected within schools was 363, a 5.9% (155 persons) increase compared to the previous week. The main infection route among students is family transmission (36.0%, 559 persons), followed by in-school transmission (25.0%, 388 persons). Outside-school infections account for the smallest portion (7.0%, 110 persons), and 32.0% (497 persons) have an unknown infection route.

The number of confirmed cases by school level is as follows: elementary school 793, middle school 359, high school grades 1-2 140, kindergarten 114, and high school grade 3 (senior year) 29. The number of confirmed elementary students increased by 248, middle school students by 40, high school grades 1 and 2 by 30, and kindergarten students by 49 compared to the previous week.

The infection rate by school level is highest in elementary schools (55.3%), followed by middle schools (25.0%), high school grades 1-2 (9.8%), and kindergarten (7.9%). The proportion of student cases relative to total confirmed cases in Seoul rose to 11.9%, up from 10.4% the previous week.

Among all confirmed cases, the proportion of elementary students is high, but within the same school level, middle school students have a slightly higher infection rate. The large number of elementary students, comparable to the combined size of middle and high school students, creates the appearance of a larger number of confirmed cases. According to Ministry of Education data, as of the fifth week of November, the confirmed case rate per 100,000 is 10.6 for middle school students and 10.3 for elementary students.

The Ministry of Education and metropolitan and provincial offices of education are conducting a demand survey for school-based vaccinations until the 8th and will begin school-based vaccinations from the 13th. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education is also preparing countermeasures as the timing of the second dose may coincide with the school vacation.

Superintendent Cho said, "In accordance with government policy, we plan to support various vaccination methods to provide convenience for children and adolescents who wish to be vaccinated," adding, "We will closely coordinate with local governments and schools to enable vaccinations considering academic schedules, health conditions, and regional circumstances."

He continued, "To enhance vaccination convenience, we will promote options such as vaccination institutions visiting schools or group visits to public health centers, similar to the approach for high school seniors."

From February 1st, vaccine passes will also be mandatory for 12- to 17-year-olds in multi-use facilities such as academies and libraries. Parents are opposing the vaccine pass implementation, claiming it infringes on learning rights and effectively forces vaccination.

Superintendent Cho stated, "If the first dose is completed by the 24th and a three-week interval is maintained, there should be no significant issues with the vaccine pass application starting February 1st. It is possible to extend the period for providing vaccination convenience."

Oh Jeong-hoon, Director of Physical Education, Health, Culture, and Arts at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, explained, "The expansion of vaccinations and the vaccine pass are measures emphasizing public interest in protection rather than learning rights. For children and adolescents with underlying conditions, the risk of severe illness upon infection is high, so the focus is on this aspect."

On the morning of November 22, after more than two years since the COVID-19 pandemic, kindergartens and elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide began full in-person attendance, and students are arriving at an elementary school in Seoul. Photo by Joint Press Corps

Both the Ministry of Education and metropolitan and provincial offices of education maintain the policy of in-person classes despite the increase in confirmed cases, citing concerns over learning loss and emotional and social development caused by prolonged remote learning.

Ko Hyo-seon, Director of Education Policy at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, said, "Students have faced difficulties in learning rights and behavior over the past two years due to COVID-19, so it is true that there is a desire to attend school. However, given the serious situation, we have strongly requested that face-to-face group activities and experiential activities be restricted and refrained from."

Director Ko explained, "If confirmed cases occur at a school or there is a rapid increase in cases in the area, the school principal has the discretion to switch to remote learning for the first five days. For 5 to 10 days, the education office must be notified, and for more than 10 days, remote learning can be implemented in consultation with the education office."

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