High school seniors on May 20 started their school year after several delays due to the coronavirus. Pictured here are seniors at a Seoul high school taking a test while wearing masks. (Yonhap News)

By Lee Hana

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on May 22, in a meeting on responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, discussed measures related to the May 20 start of the school year for high school seniors.

In accordance with the government plan to open the 2020 school year in phases, seniors are the first to return to the classroom amid the pandemic.

Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neunghoo, concurrently first vice head of the headquarters, told the meeting, "Despite numerous concerns, some 2,227 high schools nationwide are running their classrooms following strict protocol, with students wearing masks and undergoing temperature checks upon arrival."

"Quarantine authorities and the Ministry of Education will maintain such emergency measures while monitoring the quarantine situation at schools daily, ensuring prompt responses to all situations."

"For ensuring the safety of high school seniors at school, we need the cooperation of all of the people including schools, families and regional community," he added. "I would like to ask you again to practice everyday life quarantine for students going to school and further for the safety and health of all communities."

As a precautionary measure, the ministry has conducted health surveys online in the morning for all seniors. Students with suspected symptoms, those with relatives in self-quarantine or students who recently traveled abroad have been asked to stay home until further notice.

Upon arrival at school, students undergo temperature checks while wearing masks. Those showing any symptoms are immediately sent to test centers in cooperation with the National Emergency Management Agency and the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

If a student tests positive for COVID-19, the school will switch back to online classes. The ministry also announced that it will conduct tests and epidemiological studies to do its best to protect students, faculty and staff from the coronavirus.

With high school seniors starting school on May 20, the ministry plans to open the school year for juniors on May 27 and then to all other grades in stages, making sure that all schools nationwide strictly enforce quarantine measures.

hlee10@korea.kr