방학 맞이하고 비상걸린 당국... 학교보다 집이 더 위험해
Are schools the safest place to protect our children from COVID-19?
Out of more than a hundred juvenile COVID-19 cases over the past three months, 60 percent of those came from home.
Only one case was reported to be transmitted at school.
But as schools start their summer vacation, health authorities in South Korea are on alert.
Choi Jeong-yoon has the details.
Concerns over COVID-19 infections at schools have brought unprecedented changes in South Korea.
In a country where education is king... the starting of schools was pushed back several times with most schools going online even after the re-openings.
However, recent data shows most children who caught COVID-19 actually contracted the disease at home.
According to a recent report by South Korea's Central Disease Control Headquarters, a total of one-hundred and eleven COVID-19 cases have been reported among 3-to-18-year-olds since May.
Out of those...over 60 percent of the children contracted the virus from home.
Sixteen percent caught it from private academies and tutoring, while eight percent caught it at facilities like PC rooms and singing rooms, or at religious gatherings.
Only one case was related to a transmission at school... a fifth grader contracting the virus from a friend.
Health authorities explained that at small gatherings among close friends and families, people tend to wear masks less and this could lead to a greater chance of infection.
"Now we are facing new variables. School vacations and long holidays. In order to protect schools from COVID-19 and proceed with the second semester safely, the end of July until the beginning of August is very important. We request parents to make disinfection measures like wearing masks and washing hands part of their daily routine during the period."
Health authorities said teachers' efforts also helped prevent school-based cluster infections.
Education officials immediately closed down schools whenever an infection occurred and switched to online classes.
Health authorities also warned that summer vacation means students spend more time at academies and PC rooms, which could increase virus prevention blind spots.
The government is also planning to stagger entries of some 50-thousand international students expected before the second semester by issuing visas at different times or adjusting flight schedules.
Choi Jeong-yoon, Arirang News.
