Clinical Expert: "COVID-19 Suppression Strategy Limits... Must Keep in Mind 'Anyone Can Get Infected'"

Central Clinical Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases Emphasizes Pandemic Response Strategy at Meeting on the 23rd
"School Closure Measures Have Proactive Blocking Effects but Lack Countermeasures for Spread After Reopening"

Oh Myung-don, Chairman of the Central Clinical Committee (Professor of Infectious Diseases, Seoul National University Hospital, photo left), is speaking at a meeting held on the 1st at the National Medical Center.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Daeyeol] Clinical experts on the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) have judged that the various ongoing quarantine strategies have limitations. Although the spread is being curbed through social distancing measures such as delaying school openings by more than a month and encouraging telecommuting at workplaces, they believe these responses are not sustainable.

They argue that instead of clinging only to drastic measures effective for a 'short-term battle,' preparations must be made for a 'long-term battle,' considering that ending the epidemic is practically impossible. This means preparing for how to respond if patients appear anytime in our surroundings such as schools or workplaces, and what medical institutions should prepare for when the epidemic resurges.

Oh Myung-don, Chair of the Central Clinical Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases (Professor of Infectious Diseases at Seoul National University Hospital), stated at the meeting on the 23rd, "As a result of the suppression policies pursued by the quarantine authorities so far, the domestic epidemic has been controlled to some extent in a stable manner," but he pointed out, "There is a limit to maintaining suppression policies that mobilize all quarantine measures continuously." He added, "The fundamental limitation of suppression policies is that if the suppression is lifted, the epidemic can start again," and said, "We are at a crossroads where we must choose whether to continue suppression policies until a vaccine is available or to partially ease them."

The immediate problem expected in reality is after school reopening. Clinical experts who treated patients commonly agree that it is unavoidable for patient numbers to increase again once group activities resume. Considering COVID-19’s characteristic of strong transmissibility even during the early stage when symptoms are mild, experts foresee that the epidemic will spread among students after school starts, and this spread will extend to homes and workplaces, affecting society as a whole.

No Nationwide Immunity and Vaccine Possible Only After One Year... "Spread Stops When 60% of Population is Infected"
"If Patients Occur in Schools, Full Closure? Need to Consider Other Measures"

Professor Oh said, "Assuming the basic reproduction number of COVID-19 is about 2.5, the spread can only stop when about 60% of our population has developed immunity to the virus," adding, "The ways to have this level of immunity in the population at once are either vaccination or natural immunity after recovery from infection, but vaccines will only be available at the earliest after 12 months."

Specifically, Chair Oh pointed out that after school reopening, prevention policies should be established at the class, grade, or school level. Medical institutions should prepare in advance personal protective equipment such as masks, gowns, gloves, and ventilators for patient treatment in case the epidemic resurges. The government should also accelerate the development of vaccines and antiviral drugs to protect the public, support domestic research and development, and participate in research and development at the World Health Organization (WHO) level, responding on multiple fronts.

He also emphasized that preparing for this 'long-term battle against COVID-19' is an issue to be considered not only by medical experts but also by all sectors of society. Professor Oh said, "For example, if COVID-19 patients occur in a specific school after reopening, the response might be to close the entire school, but other options such as closing only the affected class or staggering attendance by grade could be considered," adding, "Such decisions should be wisely handled by frontline educational institutions and education authorities, not just medical experts, meaning this is a matter for broad societal discussion and decision-making."

The departure hall of Terminal 1 at Incheon International Airport was quiet on the 23rd due to the impact of COVID-19. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

The Central Clinical Committee is a consultative body composed of medical staff and hospital officials who treated domestic COVID-19 patients, sharing information on clinical progress and treatment. The National Medical Center has expanded the committee, which was previously operated as a task force, into a permanent organization. However, to further enhance response capabilities, it was judged necessary to promptly and concretely advance the establishment of a central infectious disease hospital, which had not been pursued due to local resident opposition.

Jung Ki-hyun, Director of the National Medical Center, said, "If we just get through this situation temporarily and the gap continues, social costs will increase and the sacrifices of medical personnel will be repeated," adding, "It is no longer a matter to delay but to swiftly promote and institutionalize its function as the core of the emerging infectious disease medical system."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.