Adolescent Quarantine Pass Implemented in March... New Semester Academic Operations Announced in Early February (Comprehensive)

Delay Implementation of Quarantine Pass by One Month with a One-Month Guidance Period in March
Quarantine Pass Required for Academies, Study Rooms, Marts, and Department Stores
Ministry of Education Preparing Academic Operations to Achieve Normal School Attendance
Plan to Announce Academic Operation Measures by Early February

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The implementation of the youth quarantine pass has been postponed by one month to March. A grace period will be given throughout March, and fines will be imposed for violations starting in April. The Ministry of Education plans to finalize and announce the academic operation plan for the new semester by early February next year.

On the 31st, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced the extension of social distancing measures for two more weeks and the adjusted quarantine measures, stating that the youth quarantine pass system for those aged 12 to 18 will be implemented starting in March.

Jung Byung-ik, Director of the Lifelong Education Bureau at the Ministry of Education, said, "Considering students' vaccination rates, the overlap with final exam schedules at schools until early January, and the need to increase vaccination rates, we comprehensively reflected the opinions of students and parents who emphasized the necessity of securing sufficient vaccination schedules."

The government, led by the Ministry of Education, held meetings with students, parents, and experts, and formed official consultative bodies with related ministries and academy organizations to listen to field opinions and prepare improvement measures. Due to many concerns about the lack of time for vaccination schedules with the February implementation, the start date was postponed and a grace period was introduced.

From March, youth quarantine pass required for academies, study rooms, department stores, and marts

Starting March 1, the youth quarantine pass system will apply to those aged 12 to 18 (born on or before December 31, 2009). The pass will be required not only for academies, study rooms, and study cafes but also for 17 types of facilities including department stores and large marts.

The one-month grace period for the youth quarantine pass will be in place during March, but from April, businesses violating the rule will face fines of 3 million KRW, and individuals will be fined 100,000 KRW.

Director Jung said, "Academies are facilities frequently used by youths in their daily lives, and implementing the quarantine pass without sufficient guidance could impose excessive burdens on youths unfamiliar with the system and on operators. Therefore, we provided a longer guidance period than the adult vaccine pass system to ensure smooth adaptation on-site, considered improving the convenience of vaccination certificates, and prepared implementation plans for users and facility managers."

The vaccination verification process at academies will also be simplified. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency plans to revise guidelines by January next year to allow monthly verification of vaccination certificates for academies that manage users weekly or monthly, for the convenience of students. For youths aged 12 to 17, there is no expiration period for the second dose vaccination certificate, so a single vaccination certificate is sufficient. Youths without mobile phones can use paper vaccination certificates or vaccination stickers distributed at community centers.

Ministry of Education "Preparing academic operations aiming for normal attendance in the new semester"

The Ministry of Education expects normal in-person classes to be possible from next year. The academic operation method for the new semester, including attendance, will be announced by early February.

Lee Sang-soo, Director of the School Innovation Support Office, said, "We are preparing the 2022 academic year operations aiming for normal attendance in the new semester, and we expect normal academic operations at the start of the semester. We also anticipate a reduction in infections centered around academies once vaccinations for those aged 12 to 17 are completed during the vacation and the youth quarantine pass system is introduced from the 3rd."

Director Lee added, "We will comprehensively consider the infectious disease situation during the vacation and gather field opinions to provide guidance to schools through metropolitan and provincial offices of education by the end of January or early February at the latest. We will supplement school quarantine guidelines considering measures against the spread of the Omicron variant and prepare sufficient quarantine support personnel and supplies to ensure smooth academic operations."

Youth quarantine pass to end once infection stabilizes

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters stated that they will discuss ending the youth quarantine pass system once the infectious disease situation stabilizes after monitoring future quarantine conditions.

Director Jung said, "If the infection situation decreases and the infection rate falls to a level where daily life recovery is possible, we have accepted the position of academy organizations, students, and parents that the youth vaccine pass system should be terminated first. The judgment on a stable phase will be made together with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and the Ministry of Health and Welfare."

Son Young-rae, Social Strategy Team Leader at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said, "As infections among the unvaccinated decrease and the severity and fatality rates drop, quarantine passes will be gradually lifted starting with low-risk facilities. The quarantine pass is being expanded because the proportion of youth confirmed cases is rapidly increasing. Once vaccination rates improve and the infection wave declines and begins to stabilize, the lifting of quarantine passes will be prioritized for review accordingly."

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