"Living Quarantine, Unfamiliar Response System... Government Still Cautious Amid Possible Trial and Error"

COVID-19 Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters to Transition to Daily Quarantine System from the 6th
"Harmony Between Daily Life and Quarantine"...Social Distancing in Daily Life
"A First Attempt in Modern Nation Infectious Disease Response, Our Case to Be Referenced Overseas"

Children are selecting various stationery items with their parents on May 3rd at the Dongdaemun stationery and toy street in Seoul ahead of Children's Day. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The government-initiated 'social distancing' to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) will change to 'social distancing in daily life,' also known as the daily quarantine system, starting from the 6th. While the focus had been on quarantine even if daily life was somewhat restricted, the new plan aims to harmonize daily life and quarantine to prevent overall social contraction.

However, since no country has attempted such a daily quarantine system amid the current pandemic situation, the government is also cautious. There is a risk that this transition could loosen quarantine activities at the individual citizen level. The government is fully aware of the possibility that patient numbers may rise again or trial and error may occur during the process of establishing daily quarantine.

Park Neung-hoo, 1st Deputy Head of the COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Minister of Health and Welfare), stated at a briefing on the 3rd, "After diagnosing the current situation and considering opinions from various experts including the Daily Quarantine Committee, we have decided to end social distancing and transition to the daily quarantine system, the social distancing in daily life phase, starting from the 6th."

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun is delivering opening remarks at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on COVID-19 held at the Government Seoul Office on the 3rd. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

The government began high-intensity social distancing on the 22nd of last month. It was a measure to minimize social contact overall by refraining from events and gatherings and encouraging telecommuting at workplaces. It was a desperate measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19. After about a month, it was changed to a relaxed social distancing. Such distancing to prevent infectious disease spread is considered a fundamental quarantine response method. The transition will occur after about one and a half months.

Deputy Head Park said, "Social distancing in daily life means guaranteeing social and economic activities while making every individual and our society as a whole responsible quarantine agents," adding, "We must create a new daily life that can prevent the transmission of COVID-19." He further explained, "Social distancing in daily life does not mean the end of COVID-19," and "Even if COVID-19 infections occur in the community, the goal is to block large-scale transmission and prevent cluster infections."

The basic directions emphasized by quarantine authorities, such as personal hygiene rules and avoiding close contact as much as possible, will be maintained. Gatherings, outings, and events will be allowed on the condition that quarantine rules are followed. Public facilities that had been closed will gradually resume operations. Deputy Head Park stated, "To ensure social distancing in daily life is not disrupted, the reopening of public facilities and administrative orders for high-risk facilities will be adjusted step-by-step until the end of May."

Park Neung-hoo, the 1st Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Minister of Health and Welfare), is briefing on the results of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting for COVID-19 response at the Government Seoul Office Building on the afternoon of the 3rd. <이미지:Yonhap News>

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Although this transition aims to restore subdued daily life, the government remains cautious. About a month after the first domestic case, in mid-February, there was a period of loosened vigilance that led to a large-scale cluster infection. In Singapore, after judging that quarantine measures were effective in late March, cases surged following school reopening. Since the effectiveness of the daily quarantine approach has never been tested, the government is proceeding cautiously step by step.

Deputy Head Park said, "The concept of long-term and sustainable social distancing in daily life that our society is attempting is a very unfamiliar response system, the first of its kind in the history of infectious disease response in modern nations," adding, "There are no suitable precedents in other countries to refer to, and rather, our attempt is likely to serve as a reference for other countries."

He continued, "Social distancing in daily life will impose restrictions on many things we used to enjoy routinely, and there is a high possibility of experiencing various trial and errors during the initial implementation," but added, "Despite moments of crisis over the past three months, thanks to our collective efforts, we are gradually moving toward a society safer from COVID-19."

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