Thousands of students across the country appeared for the national college entrance exam despite a surge in Corona Virus cases in South Korea.
Corona Virus Surge in South Korea
The South Koreans are currently experiencing the third wave of the deadly Corona Virus. The total number of Covid cases in the country stands at 36,961 out of which 28,611 people have recovered. The country’s response to the deadly pandemic is among some of the best in the world, with a large number of recoveries and a relatively low death toll that stands at 543.
The country had managed to flatten the curve without damaging the economic sector or over burdening the sector of medicine. However, despite strict precautions, the country has been hit with a third wave of infection, which leads us to one question:
Why is the Country Faced with a Third Wave?
Despite being vigilant about the situation, the state is faced with a new surge in cases because of a rise in asymptomatic patients. Although strict social distancing measures have been enforced, the number of asymptomatic patients has risen in the past months.
People who have contracted the virus but do not display any symptoms now account for 40% of the total infected population in South Korea. While such people themselves do not experience symptoms, they can transmit it to others who may experience serious health repercussions.
The National College Entrance Exam
The national college entrance exam in South Korea serves as the determining factor for the students’ career. The South Korean education system prepares students their whole lives for this test, known as Suneung or the Scholastic Ability Test.
The highly competitive job market in the East Asian state requires students to have graduated from prestigious schools in order to obtain corporate jobs. Students spend years studying for this significant exam that could make or break their careers. This year, half a million students appeared for the stressful 8 hour long test.
What Precautionary Measures were Adopted ?
Days before the date of the test, health officials started disinfecting classrooms where the test was to take place. An estimated 31,000 class rooms were disinfected to curb the spread of virus during the test.
Temperatures of the students were checked before they entered. Those whose body temperature was more than 37.5 or displayed symptoms were made to take the test in separate rooms.
Exam desks were set up in line with social distancing rules. A plastic divider was placed on each desk and the students were prohibited from taking their masks off at any point during the test. They were also advised to not talk to each other between breaks.
Covid Positive Students Sit for the Exam
South Korea is a country that puts great emphasis on education. This was witnessed during this nation wide entrance exam as well, since special arrangements were made for students suffering from the virus.
35 students who had tested positive for the virus were provided the facility to take the test from their hospital beds where teachers in full protective gear were present for invigilation. Another 3,775 students took the test from the places where they are quarantined.
Students across the country breathed a sigh of relief after the test was successfully conducted and now await the results.
I’m Susan Karen, a professional writer and editor at World Stock Market. I specialize in Entertainment news, writing stories that keep readers informed on all the latest developments in the industry. With over five years of experience in creating engaging content and copywriting for various media outlets, I have grown to become an invaluable asset to any team.
