Yoo Eun-hye "Large-scale confirmed cases throughout March"... Urges Calm Response

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyungsoo Park] Yoo Eun-hye, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, stated, "Many students and staff members will test positive throughout the entire month of March," and urged, "Even in unexpected situations, both schools and education support offices should respond calmly according to their plans and preparations."

On the 23rd, Deputy Prime Minister Yoo visited the Cheongju Education Support Office in Chungbuk to inspect the preparation site for rapid antigen test kits to be distributed to students on the first day of the new semester. She also extended words of encouragement and gratitude to the staff of the Chungbuk Office of Education, Cheongju Education Support Office, and the Chungbuk branch of the Korean Red Cross.

Deputy Prime Minister Yoo listened to opinions from the field regarding the school quarantine support measures of the education offices and support offices, as well as the application of the new quarantine system. She requested, "Please operate the new semester adaptation week from March 2 to 11 as a period to practically enhance schools' Omicron response capabilities."

The Ministry of Education has introduced a school-based quarantine system where schools independently investigate and manage contacts of confirmed cases within the school in response to the spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant.

Additionally, rapid antigen test kits will be provided to 6.92 million students and staff members in kindergartens, elementary, middle, and high schools. Preemptive testing before attending school is recommended. A total of 60.5 million test kits will be supplied by next month.

Concerns have been raised about confusion on the ground and increased workload for teachers due to the introduction of the school quarantine system. Deputy Prime Minister Yoo acknowledged, "We understand that this is unfamiliar and psychologically burdensome for students, staff, and parents alike," but added, "It was an unavoidable measure to provide as much face-to-face instruction as possible without being discouraged by the Omicron crisis situation."

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