Ministry of Education Expands Testing Sites for COVID-Positive Examinees, Recommends 'Rapid Antigen Test' Day Before Suneung

COVID-19 Resurgence Leads to Tripling of Capacity at Separate Test Centers
Examinees Tested on 16th Must Take Rapid Antigen Test Instead of PCR
Confirmed Cases After 11th Must Be Reported to Education Office by Phone

On the 10th, when 55,365 new COVID-19 cases were reported, citizens visiting the screening clinic set up at Yongsan-gu Public Health Center in Seoul were moving to get tested. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Ministry of Education has expanded the capacity of separate testing centers for quarantined examinees in preparation for the 2023 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) amid the resurgence of COVID-19. It also recommended taking rapid antigen tests if COVID-19 testing is done the day before the exam.

On the 14th, the Ministry of Education reviewed the support system for confirmed examinees and disclosed the preparation status ahead of the CSAT scheduled for the 17th.

In response to the recent resurgence of COVID-19 and the expected increase in confirmed examinees, the number of separate testing centers and hospital testing centers has been increased. The separate testing centers for quarantined examinees now total 110 centers with 827 rooms, significantly expanding capacity to accommodate 12,884 examinees. Originally, 108 centers with 680 rooms could accommodate 4,683 examinees, so the capacity has been increased about threefold. Each testing room in the separate testing centers accommodates 6 to 8 examinees.

The number of hospital testing beds for examinees undergoing inpatient treatment has also been expanded from 93 to 108. The number of hospital testing centers increased from 24 to 25. However, the lists of hospital and separate testing centers are not disclosed.

Starting this year’s CSAT, testing centers are separated for general examinees and those who have received quarantine notifications. Symptomatic examinees take the test in isolated rooms within general testing centers, while those under home treatment or inpatient care take the test at separate or hospital testing centers. Confirmed cases must travel on foot or by private vehicle.

Three days before the 2023 College Scholastic Ability Test, on the 14th, the CSAT test papers are being distributed at a printing factory in Sejong.
Sejong - Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

The Ministry of Education recommends that examinees who take COVID-19 tests on the 16th, the day before the CSAT, opt for rapid antigen tests rather than polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests to receive prompt support for testing. This is because rapid confirmation of test results and reporting to the local education office are necessary to assign separate testing centers and provide support.

Additionally, the Ministry has requested cooperation from hospitals, clinics, and public health center screening clinics conducting COVID-19 diagnostic tests to more accurately track confirmed examinees. If a CSAT examinee tests positive, they must promptly report to the public health center and quickly enter the information into the COVID-19 Information Management System.

If an examinee is confirmed positive for COVID-19 while taking the CSAT, they must immediately notify the local education office by phone. Examinees confirmed positive after the 11th must take the test at separate testing centers.

The Ministry emphasized, "Examinees must immediately inform the local education office of their confirmed status to receive prompt assignment to separate testing centers and necessary support. It is especially important to remember to contact the education office upon confirmation."

Since the 3rd, the Ministry of Education has been operating a joint task force with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency to monitor the daily occurrence of confirmed examinees by region. From the 11th, the system to assign confirmed examinees to separate testing centers and manage examinees has been fully activated.

Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, stated, "Based on the experience of the past two years, the Ministry of Education is doing its utmost to ensure that all examinees can take the CSAT in a safe and secure environment this year as well. We ask examinees and their families to take care of their health until the exam day and, in case an examinee is confirmed positive, to promptly report to the local education office to receive necessary guidance."

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