[Q&A] "If Social Distancing Loosens, Explosive Pandemic Possible Anytime... Daily Quarantine Is Important"

On the 12th, members of Onnuri Church held an Easter service inside their cars after parking them at a large parking lot in Yangjae-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The number of new COVID-19 cases has remained around 30 over the past four days. However, health authorities believe there is a high possibility of a resurgence if social distancing measures are relaxed.

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters for COVID-19, stated at a briefing on the 12th, "Although the number of confirmed cases has recently decreased, we assess that if social distancing is loosened, there is a risk of a large-scale outbreak in enclosed environments and through close contact." She added, "If a large-scale outbreak occurs, the medical system could collapse, and problems such as an increase in deaths among high-risk groups could arise at any time."

As Easter, a major event in the Christian community, approached, church gatherings and outdoor activities increased nationwide, signaling risk in various places. Director Jung said, "There are indications that human contact this weekend was probably higher than in previous weeks, and health authorities are on alert," adding, "We believe there was significant exposure."

Jung Eun-kyung, Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for COVID-19 <이미지: Yonhap News>

The following is a Q&A with Director Jung at the briefing that day.

- It seems some places did not fully comply with quarantine guidelines during early voting. Are there additional quarantine management measures planned for the general election on the 15th?

▲ This early voting was the first time infection prevention rules were applied to voting. Although there were concerns, voting was conducted minimizing close contact environments through temperature checks, hand sanitizing, mask-wearing, and social distancing. While some shortcomings remain, we will improve for the main voting day. Since the number of polling stations has increased, we expect close contact to decrease further.

- The World Health Organization is reviewing domestic cases of re-positivity. What aspects are being investigated?

▲ To identify the causes of re-positivity after release from isolation, the Central Epidemiological Investigation Team and local teams are conducting joint investigations. They are focusing on nursing homes where cluster outbreaks occurred, conducting patient control group studies, and examining changes in PCR positivity through various specimen tests. Additionally, virus culture tests are being performed to see if live virus can be isolated, and investigations are underway to determine whether secondary transmission occurred from contacts exposed after re-positivity. No significant conclusions have been reached yet.

- Chinese and American research teams have reported that the coronavirus can destroy human immune cells. What does this imply?

▲ Generally, especially in young patients, infection with viruses can trigger an excessive immune response known as a 'cytokine storm,' which can rapidly worsen the condition or lead to death. Further clinical research and review are needed. Similar concerns were raised during the MERS outbreak. We will conduct more research and provide opportunities for experts to explain these findings.

- What changes when returning to daily life quarantine?

▲ Returning to the pre-COVID-19 world and complete normalcy is something health authorities and many experts discuss. This is because the new infectious disease crisis that began with COVID-19 is difficult to control for a long time until vaccines or effective treatments are developed. Both we and the global community are considering what sustainable daily life quarantine measures can minimize COVID-19 damage while allowing some level of daily and economic activities before vaccine development. This includes considerations such as when schools reopen and when social controls can be eased.

The World Health Organization has also warned that relaxing social distancing could lead to explosive outbreaks. Daily life quarantine is not a concept different from social distancing. It involves maintaining social distancing at a certain level while developing various guidelines, systems, and support measures to manage COVID-19 through personal hygiene and other daily practices. We are preparing to create sector-specific guidelines and detailed implementation plans, institutionalize these guidelines, and develop support measures to enable their operation. The goal is to maintain sustainable daily life while preventing infectious diseases.

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