Suwon Becomes First Local Government Nationwide to Establish 'High School Junior Response System' for School Reopening

[Suwon Ilbo=Correspondent Seo Dong-young] Ahead of high school juniors' return to school on the 20th, Suwon City has established a COVID-19 response system with related agencies for the first time among local governments nationwide.

Four institutions—Suwon City, Suwon Office of Education, Suwon Fire Department, and Suwon Southern Fire Department—held a 'Joint Response Agreement Ceremony for COVID-19 Response During School In-Person Classes' on the 18th at the City Hall Situation Room.

The ceremony was attended by Mayor Yeom Tae-young of Suwon, Superintendent Lee Hyung-woo of Suwon Office of Education, Fire Chief Lim Jung-ho of Suwon Fire Department, and Fire Chief Lee Jung-rae of Suwon Southern Fire Department, where they shared the situation regarding the start of in-person school attendance amid COVID-19 and exchanged opinions on ensuring student safety.

The agreement consists of the four institutions' commitment to jointly respond to COVID-19 and to share role distribution among each agency in case of incidents.

First, the four institutions agreed to establish a Hot-Line to build an advance cooperation system and to actively share information related to infectious diseases.

In particular, Suwon City will strengthen guidelines and inspections on multi-use facilities around schools, while the Suwon Office of Education will make special efforts to ensure compliance with quarantine rules among school members in preparation for student return to school.

Furthermore, should suspected cases occur at schools, the fire departments in the jurisdiction will support swift transport and necessary measures, and all parties to the agreement promised to make efforts to prevent further spread through in-school quarantine activities.

Superintendent Lee Hyung-woo said, "I appreciate Suwon City and the fire departments for supporting the protection of Suwon's students from COVID-19," and added, "We will do our best to ensure that students follow quarantine guidelines as much as possible and provide a safe school environment even after the opening of school."

Mayor Yeom Tae-young said, "Today's agreement is intended for the four institutions to establish airtight quarantine measures," and continued, "Let us maintain cooperation among institutions so that not a single child is exposed to coronavirus and experiences trauma in body and mind."