Over 50s Account for 55% of Cases... "Focused Management of Spaces Used by the Elderly" (Update)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The average daily number of new confirmed cases of COVID-19 over the past two weeks was 43.4. This is more than 10 cases higher than the previous two weeks (May 21 to June 3), which recorded 34.3 cases.

Son Young-rae, head of the Strategic Planning Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, announced this at a briefing held at the Government Complex Sejong on the 19th.

He explained that sporadic infections have increased, mainly in the metropolitan area, through small-scale religious facilities, door-to-door sales presentations, and various small gatherings, leading to a rise in confirmed cases. Son said, "Previously, the spread occurred mainly in large-scale facilities such as entertainment venues or logistics centers, but recently, transmission through small gatherings has been confirmed."

The main age group affected has also shifted to middle-aged and older adults aged 50 and above. The proportion of confirmed cases aged 50 and above increased about fivefold, from 12% in the second week of May to 55% in the second week of June. Accordingly, the government decided to strengthen quarantine management blind spots through focused inspections together with local governments in the metropolitan area and Daejeon and Chungnam, where confirmed cases have recently surged.

Son stated, "We will strengthen inspections of quarantine blind spots such as small-scale religious gatherings and unregistered multi-level marketing, and continue focused management of nursing hospitals and nursing facilities, which are frequently used spaces by the elderly." He added, "We will also conduct on-site inspections and quarantine measures for free meal centers, homeless concentration areas, and jjokbangchon (small-room villages)."

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