15 Schools Delay Fall Semester Due to Swine Flu

An increasing number of elementary and secondary schools are postponing the beginning of the fall semester amid growing fears over the spread of the H1N1 influenza virus that causes swine flu.

The Education, Science and Technology Ministry yesterday said 15 schools have delayed starting the semester or temporarily closed due to swine flu fears, following a similar decision by five schools the previous day.

By region, four of the schools were in Daegu, three in North Gyeongsang Province, three in Gyeonggi Province, and one each in Incheon, North Jeolla Province, North Chungcheong Province, and Jeju Island.

Eight of them started the semester but closed school after students were reported infected with the flu. The other seven postponed the beginning of the fall semester.

The ministry said many other schools will postpone beginning the new semester or temporarily close from this week, when most of them are scheduled to begin the fall semester.

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education has sent to each school under its jurisdiction step-by-step instructions on coping with swine flu.

viyonz@donga.com