Cho Hee-yeon "School Quarantine System Must Be Improved with Rapid PCR for New Semester" (Comprehensive)

Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon Proposes Establishing Dedicated School Quarantine Department at KDCA
Support for School Epidemiological Investigations Paralyzed Due to Overburdened Public Health Centers
Confusion in Sharing Student COVID-19 Cases Due to Varying Quarantine Systems by Districts
Proposes 'Pinpoint Response' Including Rapid PCR Testing
Criticizes Corruption Investigation Office While Admitting Procedural Shortcomings in Prosecutor Indictment

Cho Hee-yeon (center), Superintendent of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, visited Dongsung High School in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 28th, where a rapid self-molecular diagnostic gene amplification (rapid PCR) testing site was set up, to observe the rapid testing process. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education has expanded the "Mobile Specimen Collection Team for Educational Facilities" from one team to more than four teams and designated the period until the 6th of next month as a "Multi-layered Quarantine Intensive Period," including a pilot operation of rapid PCR testing at five dormitory-operated schools.
Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, proposed that the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) establish a dedicated school department and introduce rapid PCR testing in schools to build a multi-layered quarantine system.

On the 28th, during the weekly COVID-19 briefing, Superintendent Cho suggested the need for a dedicated school quarantine department and experts within the KDCA, stating, "To prepare for 'with COVID' rather than 'post-COVID,' a new quarantine management system tailored to school situations must be established." He added, "Since similar situations are expected to continue in the new semester, supplementary measures are necessary to maintain full in-person attendance."

Superintendent Cho explained, "So far, testing has been limited and remote classes have been implemented, but we can advance further by enhancing the quarantine system with pinpoint testing and remote class transitions. If a confirmed case is detected in the morning, rapid PCR testing can determine whether classes can proceed in the afternoon."

He pointed out the limitations of the current school quarantine system and proposed a multi-layered testing system as an alternative.

Superintendent Cho said, "Schools require prompt epidemiological investigations and thorough countermeasures when confirmed cases occur. However, recently, due to the heavy workload and staff shortages at public health centers, schools with confirmed cases often fail to receive adequate support for epidemiological investigations. There is confusion in school quarantine because quarantine systems differ by autonomous district, and some districts do not share confirmed case information with schools citing concerns about causing anxiety. As a result, schools must rely on voluntary information provided by students and parents to establish quarantine measures."

Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, is holding a press conference on the 3rd anniversary of his inauguration at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 6th. / Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education plans to propose the introduction of rapid PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing to the KDCA. The office, in collaboration with Seoul National University, conducted a ‘Policy Research on Comparative Analysis of COVID-19 Testing Methods’ and is reviewing ways to establish a multi-layered quarantine system including rapid PCR testing and saliva specimen collection. This is based on the judgment that early detection of confirmed cases and saliva specimen collection can reduce infection risk.

Superintendent Cho said, "Schools become very chaotic while waiting for test results, and children have a strong aversion to nasal or oral swab tests. Based on research commissioned with Seoul National University, we intend to make proposals to the KDCA. I understand the KDCA is also reviewing such measures."

Oh Jeong-hoon, Director of Physical Education, Health, Culture, and Arts at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, added, "With the increasing number of confirmed cases, relying solely on rapid PCR testing is challenging, and long waiting times of 2 to 3 hours at public health centers cause fatigue. Quarantine efforts are focused on adults, and due to medical staff burnout, schools are being neglected. It is necessary to consider multi-specimen collection methods."

Regarding his third-term candidacy, Superintendent Cho said, "Schools are suffering from COVID-19, and we are concentrating all our efforts on overcoming this crisis. However, it is not yet the time to definitively announce my intention for a third term. I am still deliberating between the historical necessity of maintaining the major flow of educational innovation and my desire to be a free individual."

Superintendent Cho also shared his thoughts on the special hiring of dismissed teachers, for which the prosecution has filed non-custodial indictments. He said, "I hope the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) does not handle cases without indictment authority. The first selection itself was inappropriate. The prosecution dismissed many of the abuse of power allegations from the Board of Audit and Inspection and the CIO as unfounded. Although this was done out of educational responsibility to return teachers who suffered dismissal back to the students, I acknowledge and reflect on procedural shortcomings that led to the indictment."

In the past week (December 20?26), there were 1,879 confirmed student cases and 175 confirmed staff cases in Seoul, totaling 2,054. Student cases decreased by 230 compared to the previous week, influenced by winter vacation and school density restrictions. The infection rates relative to total students by school level are: ▲Elementary school 27.0% ▲Kindergarten 22.4% ▲Middle school 19.1% ▲High school grades 1?2 12.9% ▲High school grade 3 8.4%.

About half of elementary schools began winter vacation last week, reducing the attendance rate to 46.4% (382,657 students). As of the 27th, the current attendance rates are ▲Elementary school 35.5% ▲Middle school 58.9% ▲High school 54.5%. This week, 76% of high schools, 57% of middle schools, and 25% of elementary schools will start their vacations.

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