Due to the COVID-19, all universities and schools are closed down temporarily. (Image via UPI.com)

S. Korea extends holiday amid COVID-19

All education activities in South Korea (S. Korea), supposedly beginning on 2 March, had to be postponed due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak for two weeks.

The lecturers said universities in S. Korea were supposed to enjoy an over two-month holiday from 21 December – 1 March. However, due to the COVID-19, the learning-teaching activities need to wait until 16 March 2020.

Not only universities but also schools are also shut down to anticipate the outbreak of COVID-19. Lecturer of Malaysian Literature at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Maryani Ahmad, confirmed the news that the universities and schools in Yongin are shut down temporarily.

Indonesian Language guest lecturer in the same university, Ivan Adilla, said that so far, the only information about the educational activities will be held online. Should the condition be alleviated, then the classroom activity will be effective as usual.

On 27 February, local Korean governments recommended all universities to postpone the beginning of university year. Ivan also got the notification from an e-mail earlier on 12 February.

Graduation ceremonies are also postponed since mass gatherings are also banned temporarily by the S. Korean government. Indonesian Language lecturer at Busan University of Foreign Studies, Reno Wulan Sari, confirmed the news.

S. Korea is entering a medical crisis due to COVID-19. The country reported 3,150 positive COVID-19 cases. S. Korean Central for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said that over 90 percent of the new infection cases happened Daegu and North Gyeongsang.

Deputy Minister of Health, Kim Gang-Iip, said that 80 percent of the cases are “mild” so it can be cured.

Source: https://bit.ly/3ahbNlZ