"Need Economic Recovery" vs "Infection Risk Remains" Social Distancing Ends, What Do You Think?

High-Intensity Social Distancing Scheduled to End on the 19th
9 out of 10 Seoul Citizens Say "Need to Restore Daily Life and Transition to Living Quarantine System"
Health Authorities Say "Physical Distancing Still Necessary Even with Living Quarantine"

On the morning of the 4th of last month, a large banner announcing a two-week "Pause for a Moment" campaign for social distancing was hung on the outer wall of the Seoul Metropolitan Library in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] The government's high-intensity social distancing measures, implemented since last month in response to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), are approaching their end on the 19th. This has sparked ongoing debates among citizens.

Some citizens are raising their voices that it is appropriate to switch to daily quarantine measures that combine infection prevention activities with everyday life for reasons such as regional economic recovery, while others argue that social distancing should be extended until the quarantine situation stabilizes further. This is due to multiple cases of positive test results even after COVID-19 recovery and concerns that local infections could spread after the end of social distancing.

The government implemented high-intensity social distancing starting from the 21st of last month. Accordingly, the entire population's outings and the operation of religious, sports, and entertainment facilities were restricted. The high-intensity social distancing was originally scheduled to last until the 5th but was extended once. At that time, the government presented specific goals such as "fewer than 50 new confirmed cases" and "less than 5% of cases with unknown infection routes among all patients."

The government has achieved these targets. The daily number of new COVID-19 confirmed cases has remained below 50 from the 9th to the 17th. In particular, the number of new confirmed cases has stayed in the 20s for five consecutive days: 25 on the 13th, 27 on the 14th, 27 on the 15th, 22 on the 16th, and 22 on the 17th. Additionally, among the 573 new confirmed cases in the past two weeks, 18 patients are still under investigation or have unknown infection routes, accounting for 3.1% of the total.

As a result, voices among citizens are emerging that social distancing should end and daily quarantine measures should be adopted to restore everyday life.

A survey conducted by Seoul City through Global Research Co., Ltd. from the 10th to the 12th targeting 1,000 Seoul citizens aged 18 and older showed that 97% of respondents answered that "after the 19th, it is necessary to partially restore daily life and switch to a 'daily quarantine system'." The reasons cited by respondents included "overcoming the economic crisis through normalization of economic activities" (51.3%), "alleviation of fatigue and psychological anxiety caused by prolonged distancing" (19.8%), and "the need to resume outings and physical activities" (13.5%).

Office worker A (36) said, "Hasn't the spread of COVID-19 in the country somewhat subsided enough to achieve the government's initially set goals?" and added, "I think it is right to switch to daily quarantine to revive the depressed economy."

A explained, "Both job seekers and self-employed people are at their limits. Even if the government provides support, it has its limits," and continued, "That doesn't mean we should stop infection prevention. We need to establish a concrete daily quarantine system to prevent spread while finding ways to survive together."

On the morning of the 11th of last month, citizens wearing masks are commuting to work through Sindorim Station in Guro-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

However, some citizens still express concerns about an early transition. According to the Seoul City survey mentioned earlier, 33.4% of citizens responded that "it is necessary to switch to the daily quarantine system immediately from the 19th," while 63.6% said, "the transition is necessary, but the 19th is a bit too soon."

Some citizens also voiced anxiety due to repeated 're-positive' cases where individuals tested positive again after being declared recovered and released from isolation.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 17th, among 7,829 people nationwide who have been released from isolation, 163 tested positive again. The investigation found that the average time from release to re-positive diagnosis was 13.5 days. However, among 294 contacts of re-positive cases, no secondary infections have been reported so far.

Office worker B (27) said, "Since there are cases where people test positive again after being confirmed, and the number of confirmed cases has remained low for only 1-2 weeks, I think it is too early to enter daily quarantine immediately." He added, "The holidays start at the end of this month, and if social distancing is lifted now, people might lose their sense of crisis, which could be more dangerous."

He continued, "If group infections occur at religious facilities, amusement parks, or travel destinations during the holidays, it will quickly spread to local infections," and added, "It might be frustrating and difficult now, but wouldn't it be better than repeating such a nightmare by transitioning early?"

Meanwhile, quarantine authorities emphasized that daily quarantine is not unrelated to social distancing and reiterated the importance of practicing distancing.

Yoon Tae-ho, head of the Central Accident Response Headquarters' quarantine team, said at a regular briefing on the 17th, "Some people misunderstand daily quarantine and social distancing as different concepts," and emphasized, "Even with daily quarantine, 1 to 2 meters of physical distancing is necessary."

Yoon added, "The basic concept of physical distancing is fundamentally included within daily quarantine," and continued, "However, the extent of enforcement and legal sanctions may differ."

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