This week started ominously with a text from my co-teacher that read, "Bad news...". There had been a few confirmed cases of COVID-19 amongst the 2nd graders at my boys' middle school. All of the teachers were to get test for COVID-19 before they could report for school. Even though I don't teach 2nd graders at that school, and hadn't been to the school since last Tuesday, I also needed to get tested.
This was on a Sunday, so I went for my test on Monday morning. The results of the test wouldn't be known until the next day, so I missed one day of school. I was asked to send my lesson PowerPoint presentation so another teacher could teach it, but ultimately all classes at the school were cancelled so that was unnecessary.
The testing centre opened at 9am and I arrived a few minutes after that to see an already long line stretched along the sidewalk and doubled back. It was a long wait, but at least the rain started to let up. I had been to this testing centre twice before and was now familiar with the protocol. As always, a staff member helped me fill out the Korean forms. There is a brief interview before the test and the staff was able to ask basic questions in English. "Why did you come here today?" I answered, "Some of my students have COVID-19".
The test was pretty much the same as always. Sit down in a chair and pass your vile to the staff. Remove you mask and have a much-too-long prod shoved up your nose and scratched about. At least this time, they didn't test the back of the throat which is also very unpleasant. Not sure why the change but I didn't complain. I put my mask on and left the facility. I forgot to mention that this entire process occurs outdoors - waiting in line, filling out forms, interview, and test. It takes place in the courtyard of a medical facility and there are plenty of staff on hand to make sure things run smoothly and the line moves along as quickly as possible.
All this happened while South Korea is facing a major COVID-19 wave. The country has set another record high for cases while critical cases, deaths, and strain on hospitals is higher than ever. We reached a previously unheard of 7000+ cases per day in the country. Certain social distancing measure were reinstated after the botched 'Living with Covid' scheme that the government initiated. I can't believe there was talk of removing the facemask requirements for people who had been vaccinated. We're a long way from that now.
Also new to South Korea is a digital vaccine passport. Everyone must download the phone app and register their proof of vaccination. This proof is required for many businesses including restaurants, cafes, gyms, and so on. I spent much of my weekend trying to download the app and get myself registered. One day before the nationwide requirement for digital proof of vaccination, my co-teacher hadn't heard of it, so I was on my own. After great difficulty, and using a digital translator, I had finally downloaded the app and registered my proof of vaccination. I also made an appointment for February, when I would become eligible, for my third vaccination, the so-called booster shot.
My COVID test came back the next morning. I was negative. So, I was required to go to school that day. I had five online classes and sat through a staff meeting where the school principal updated everyone on the status of the COVID-19 cases at the school. The plan is to conduct online lessons in the short term and then switch back to in-person classes the next week. Also, the 2nd grade final exams were postponed by one week.
I'm starting my preparations to return to Canada, so that means I need to get my documents in order. My co-teacher wrote a helpful note in Korean that I took to the vaccination clinic on Thursday to get an English language and Korean language hard copy verification of my two previous vaccinations. I will need this to show proof of vaccination, among other things, when returning to Canada to classify as a 'vaccinated person'. Completing this process will allow me to avoid a long hotel-stay, quarantine for my first weeks in Canada, assuming the rules aren't altered again.
It's so odd, almost two years after arriving in Korea, we're back where we started - COVID-19 wave, online classes, and social distancing restrictions.
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