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South Korea Delays School Reopening as New Coronavirus Cases Rise

Jason Strother

   SEOUL - South Korea is extending school closures by an additional week
   as new COVID-19 infections are on the rise. COVID-19 is the illness
   caused by the coronavirus.

   Students in their third and final year of high school were scheduled to
   return to classrooms on Wednesday, but the country's Education Ministry
   has now pushed back the date to May 20.

   Park Baeg-beom, vice minister of education, said during a press
   briefing on Monday the postponement was meant to "guarantee the safety
   of students," according to the Yonhap News Agency.

   He saidother grade levels will gradually return to schools in the weeks
   going into June.

   The start of the school year, which typically commences in early March,
   was delayed by several weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic and
   courses have been taught online since last month.

   The rescheduling announced Monday is in response to a new group of
   infections that appears to be spreading across Seoul and other regions.

   The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said on
   Monday that at least 86 COVID-19 cases have been traced to a man in his
   20s who visited a popular Seoul nightlife district earlier this month.
   Officials warn that thousands of patrons of several bars and clubs in
   this area could have been exposed and should get tested.

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