Over the past few weeks, as the daily temperatures in Seoul have dropped nearly 10 degrees Celsius, a noticeable number of students have gotten sick. Stuffy noses, sneezing, and hoarse voices are common symptoms that have been increasingly observable around SIS. 

By estimation, around 15 students have been feeling sick within the first two weeks of November alone, according to reports of absent classmates from peers. Although the specific underlying cause behind this phenomenon is unknown, it is likely to do with the large temperature difference between morning and day, as well as the seasonal changes around this time of year. 

“I got sick during the first week of November and immediately went to see a doctor to get prescribed medicine,” Ashton Kim (11), a junior who fell sick earlier this month, said. “However, I continued to have coughs and a runny nose, so I decided to take an at-home COVID-19 test. The results came out negative, and I submitted the records along with a doctor’s note to the school.”

As COVID-19 shares similar symptoms to those of a cold, students who fall sick are required to submit a negative test result to the school. Despite students strictly adhering to the COVID-19 protocols at school by wearing masks and limiting contact, teachers and students have noticed an increase in the number of people visiting the nurse.

“I make sure to wear my mask unless I am eating or drinking, but I found that I got sick from my friend,” Vivienne Chung (11), a junior who had the cold during the last week of October, said. “I think that because there are COVID-19 rules and students have to wear masks, people are less susceptible to getting sick. However, at the same time, students cannot help but fall sick because of the sudden temperature change.”