6-Year-Old Tests Positive For Coronavirus, Complicating South Korea’s School Reopening Plans

TOPLINE

Just two days before South Korea planned to move to “phase two” of its school reopening timeline — in which lower grades of elementary schools could resume classes— a 6-year-old kindergarten student in Seoul tested positive for Covid-19, resulting in school closures and revealing the complicated task for governments trying to reopen economies while the virus is still spreading.

KEY FACTS

Big Number:

11,206: As of Monday morning, South Korea has 11,206 confirmed coronavirus cases, including 267 fatalities.

Crucial Quote: 

“Until treatments and vaccines are developed, we will never know when the Covid-19 crisis could end, and until then, we will have to learn how to live with Covid-19,” said Health Ministry official Yoon Taeho last week. 

Key Background:

The United States and South Korea each reported their first confirmed case of the coronavirus to the World Health Organization on the same day, January 20. South Korea has received credit for their successful efforts in quickly stabilizing the outbreak through aggressive tracking and testing. However, they saw a spike in early May after a cluster of new coronavirus cases emerged in the capital Seoul linked to reopened nightclubs. Consequently, South Korean officials pushed back plans to reopen schools, after initially intending to do so on May 13th. Last Wednesday, high school seniors were the first students cleared to return. Masks, temperature checks, and antibacterial gel were required before entering campus each day, and plastic screens separate the students in their classrooms and cafeterias. Last Monday, France’s education minister said 70 new cases of Covid-19 were recorded in schools that were allowed to reopen. 

Further Reading:

Kindergarten student tests positive for virus ahead of expanded school reopening (South Korean Yonhap News Agency)

South Korean schools close after kindergartner tests positive for coronavirus (New York Post) 

South Korea unveils new coronavirus rules, including bars registering all patrons (CBS News)