Mandatory Isolation for Confirmed Cases Extended Until June 20... Confirmed Students Allowed to Take Final Exams

Isolation requirement to be maintained until June 20
Reevaluation after 4 weeks based on outbreak situation
Slowing decrease in severe cases and deaths
Allowing confirmed/suspected students to take final exams
Applying staggered school hours and separate exam rooms

Minister of the Interior and Safety Sang-min Lee is delivering a joint public address on the 8th nationwide local elections at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 17th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The mandatory 7-day quarantine for COVID-19 positive cases will be maintained for four more weeks. However, an exception will be made to allow infected students to take their final exams.

At the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting held at the Government Seoul Office on the 20th, Lee Sang-min, the 2nd Vice Minister (Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety), stated, "We have decided to postpone the transition of the mandatory quarantine for confirmed cases for an additional four weeks until June 20th," adding, "The 7-day quarantine obligation for confirmed cases will remain in place, and we plan to reassess the epidemic situation after four weeks."

Minister Lee explained, "A highly transmissible new variant has been detected domestically, raising concerns about reduced vaccine effectiveness and immune evasion. The infection reproduction number has risen to 0.90 from 0.72 the previous week, and the decline in severe cases and deaths has slowed."

He added, "We ask for your understanding that this is an essential measure to ensure a smooth transition to the general healthcare system and to protect public health. Until the reassessment, we will listen to various private experts' opinions and further specify reasonable criteria for transitioning quarantine obligations to establish a scientifically based quarantine system."

While the quarantine obligation for confirmed cases will be maintained, an exception will be made to protect the learning rights of infected students by allowing them to take their final exams starting next month.

Minister Lee stated, "The government has prepared guidelines for final exam administration to ensure fairness among students, allowing confirmed and symptomatic students to take the exams."

He continued, "During the final exam period, measures such as staggered school arrival and departure times, separate exam rooms for confirmed cases, maintaining minimum distance between test-takers in exam rooms, safe meal guidance, and separate restroom use will be implemented."

Additional measures to prevent further spread, including disinfection after the final exams and a 10-day observation period for symptoms, have also been established. Cooperation with education offices, public health centers, and fire stations will ensure response to emergencies such as symptom worsening.

On the day, the number of new confirmed cases was about 25,000, marking the lowest Friday count in 15 weeks. The average daily number of confirmed cases over the past week was approximately 27,000, a 24% decrease compared to the previous week. The government also plans to strengthen the medical response system by expanding medical institutions for face-to-face treatment and securing isolation beds for hospitalized patients over the next four weeks.

Minister Lee said, "The government will thoroughly manage the quarantine situation and prepare meticulously for the transition to the post-Omicron stabilization phase," adding, "We ask for your understanding once again for the delay in the complete transition to the post-Omicron stabilization phase."

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