South Korea

Nation cancels planned re-opening of schools next week as clusters of infections flare, and will instead launch online classes.

South Korea cancelled the planned re-opening of schools next week because of the danger of the coronavirus as clusters of infections flare, and will instead launch online classes while delaying the annual college entrance exams.

After an early surge in cases, South Korea has managed to bring down its rate of new infections to about 100 or fewer a day, but groups of cases in churches, hospitals and nursing homes, as well as imported cases, are still emerging.

Authorities have postponed the beginning of the new school semester three times from early March to April 6, and have decided to do so again, given the persistence of the outbreak.

“We regret that we have not reached levels where children can go to schools safely even though we mobilised all our capabilities to substantially decrease risks of infection,” Prime Minister Chung Syekyun told a televised meeting of government officials yesterday.

“It is difficult to guarantee the safety of children as the sizable number of new patients emerge every day, and there are concerns that it might spread again from schools to homes and communities.”

Instead of re-opening next Monday, schools will launch online classes from April 9, Chung said, vowing to ensure students’ access to technology at home to minimise any academic disruption.

The annual college entrance exam will be postponed by two weeks to Dec 3, Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae said.

A government survey of parents and others this week showed 72% of respondents opposed the April 6 opening of schools, and 66% supported online teaching, Yoo said.

“We will explore measures to carry out actual classes and online lessons in parallel, possibly starting this month, depending on the situation,” she said.

The Korea Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reported 125 new coronavirus cases yesterday, bringing the total number of infections to 9,786. The death toll stood at 162. — Reuters