Applicants for a state-run teacher employment examination enter a test site in Seoul on Nov. 21, 2020. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Dec. 2 (Korea Bizwire) — Students and job seekers facing approaching qualification tests or open recruitment tests are extremely worried about being infected with COVID-19, in a situation where they could lose the chance to take the test if they are infected with the virus.
“Many people have a sense of uneasiness since they cannot take the test if they become infected with COVID-19,” said a 26-year-old student from Seoul National University School of Law.
“Study groups mostly shifted from physical meetings to non-face-to-face meetings, and most people study from home now.”
Some test-takers claim that it is not sensible to deprive some people of the right to take a test simply because they have COVID-19, adding that there should be relief measures in place to deal with such cases.
“We only have one chance a year to take the test. It would be too harsh if we cannot take the test simply because we test positive for COVID-19,” said a 26-year-old who is now studying to pass the qualifying examination for certified public labor attorneys.
“It has been about one year since the first coronavirus patient was confirmed here in South Korea. Still, there are no countermeasures to address this issue.”
All schools and private institutions where students and test-takers study are busy coming up with their respective disinfection measures.
Unlike students and test-takers who are urging the government to come up with special relief measures to address such issues, health experts share the view that it’s not a good idea to allow COVID-19 positive individuals to take tests.
“Due to the recent spike in the number of coronavirus patients, we are frantically busy transporting actual patients by ambulance,” said Choi Won-suk, an infectious disease professor at Korea University Ansan Hospital.
“Considering that it’s difficult to separate COVID-19 positive individuals and others at test sites, we can’t afford to put the priority on their right to take the test.”
J. S. Shin (js_shin@koreabizwire.com)
