[Summary] Average Daily Confirmed Cases 246... Government Deliberates on Raising Social Distancing to Level 3

Jeong Eun-kyung "Situation Requires Considering Raising Social Distancing to Level 3"
Daily COVID-19 Cases Exceed 200 on Average for a Week
Economic and Public Impact Unavoidable if Level 3 Implemented
Government to Focus on Containing Spread in Seoul Metropolitan Area
President Moon: "Must Show That 'Public Authority Is Alive'"

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters (Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency), is holding a regular briefing on the afternoon of the 21st at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency in Cheongju, Chungbuk, regarding the current status of domestic COVID-19 cases and interim investigation results of confirmed patients. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] As the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has surged recently, mainly in the Seoul metropolitan area, health authorities have officially mentioned the need to consider raising the current Level 2 social distancing to the highest Level 3. However, since upgrading to Level 3 social distancing would inevitably cause significant damage to livelihoods and the economy, the government has stated that it will approach this matter with extreme caution.

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters (Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency), diagnosed at the COVID-19 regular briefing held on the 21st at the Osong Disease Control Headquarters in Chungbuk, "The current scale of the outbreak is difficult to keep up with due to its speed, and because the virus is infectious even before symptoms appear, it is very difficult to control the current outbreak without reducing contact between people."

She added, "The priority is to properly implement and enforce Level 2 social distancing," but also said, "If this is not followed and the spread continues, we must consider upgrading to Level 3."

On the afternoon of the 20th, police and church officials, along with worshippers, are confronting each other during an epidemiological investigation by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters at Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, where multiple confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) have occurred. / Photo by Yonhap News

The Level 3 social distancing mentioned by Director Jung on this day is the highest level of social distancing, which is referred to as a 'lockdown' policy in countries such as the United States and Europe.

If social distancing is raised to Level 3, various measures will be implemented, including △banning gatherings of 10 or more people △suspending operations of high-risk and medium-risk facilities △restricting in-person classes and switching to remote learning △suspending professional sports games △requiring all public institutions and companies to have employees work from home except for essential personnel.

Domestic industries such as food service and lodging, where gatherings of multiple people are unavoidable, will effectively be halted, and as most private-sector workers switch to remote work, public transportation usage will sharply decline. This is an extreme measure that temporarily suspends most economic activities except for essential sectors to prevent virus spread.

The fact that Director Jung, the head of the health authorities, officially mentioned such a drastic measure indicates the seriousness of the current COVID-19 spread situation.

Level 3 social distancing is raised when conditions such as △daily new confirmed cases exceeding 100 to 200 people △doubling of cases twice a week (a phenomenon where the number of infections doubles) are met.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of midnight on the 21st, the number of new confirmed domestic cases was 324. The daily number of confirmed cases has exceeded 100 for seven consecutive days since the 15th. The daily average number of confirmed cases is over 246, already surpassing the first condition. Although the doubling twice a week has not yet occurred, there are concerns that the level could reach the threshold for raising to Level 3 at any time.

President Moon Jae-in adjusts his glasses with a stern expression after finishing his remarks at the 'Emergency Inspection for Strengthening COVID-19 Prevention Measures in Seoul' held at Seoul City Hall in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 21st. / Photo by Yonhap News

However, the government has stated that it will make an extremely cautious judgment since Level 3 social distancing could have a significant impact on the national economy and livelihoods. Earlier, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said in opening remarks at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on the 19th at the Seoul Government Complex, "Some opinions suggest raising social distancing to Level 3, but the current situation does not meet the criteria for Level 3."

He added, "If raised to Level 3, gatherings of 10 or more people would be banned, causing tremendous shock to people's lives and the economy," emphasizing, "The urgent task now is to stop the spread so that the situation does not escalate to Level 3."

The government plans to focus all efforts on containing the spread in the metropolitan area to prevent the need to raise social distancing to Level 3.

President Moon Jae-in said at the 'Emergency Inspection Meeting on Strengthening COVID-19 Prevention in Seoul' held at Seoul City Hall in Jung-gu on the 21st, "The number of confirmed cases has exceeded 300, but it could quickly rise to 900 or even over 1,000," expressing concern.

After an unusual silence of about 10 seconds, President Moon added, "Seoul is at the center of this crisis," noting, "Half of South Korea's population lives in Seoul and the metropolitan area, where population density is high. If Seoul's prevention efforts collapse, the entire country's prevention will collapse at once."

He further stated, "If there are any acts that obstruct epidemiological investigations or quarantine measures, respond firmly with legal actions not only under the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act but also under laws against obstruction of official duties and other criminal offenses," emphasizing, "I want the public to clearly see that 'public authority is alive.'"

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