Jung Eun-kyung "COVID-19 cases likely to increase for a while... Social distancing effects will take another week"

COVID-19 Central Disease Control Headquarters Regular Briefing
Director Jeong: "300 Cases for Three Consecutive Days, Not Yet the Peak"
Considering Epidemic Trends, Possibility of Raising Social Distancing to Level 3 Under Review

Jung Eun-kyung, Head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) continues as the number of new confirmed cases in South Korea has exceeded 300 for three consecutive days. Health authorities anticipate that the number of new confirmed cases is likely to increase further in the near term, as additional patients continue to emerge from recent major outbreak clusters.

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said at a briefing today, "We do not see today's nearly 400 confirmed cases as the peak," adding, "We expect the number of confirmed cases to increase somewhat more for the time being."

She continued, "There are still some exposed individuals who have not yet been tested, and contact tracing and management of contacts among confirmed patients’ families, workplaces, and multi-use facilities are ongoing," adding, "As secondary transmissions are further confirmed and new infections can lead to more exposures, we predict that the number of confirmed cases will continue to rise for the time being."

Regarding the recent domestic situation, she assessed that "nationwide spread continues to expand." This is because new confirmed cases have exceeded 300 for three consecutive days as of today, with the number of patients increasing daily. The simultaneous emergence of patients across various regions nationwide also hinders prompt quarantine measures. Head Jung said, "This is a grave and serious situation on the verge of a nationwide large-scale outbreak."

On the 23rd, when social distancing level 2 was expanded nationwide, citizens gathered at the Galaxy Note20 experience center set up in a large shopping mall in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

Reproduction Number 1.67... Exceeds 2 in Honam Region
One More Week Needed to See Effects of Social Distancing
Jung Eun-kyung: "Considering Stage 3 Measures... Please Follow Distancing Rules"

According to health authorities, the reproduction number, which indicates how many people one patient infects, was recently identified as 1.67. While the Seoul metropolitan area recorded a slightly lower figure of 1.65 compared to the average, the Honam region showed a higher rate of 2.18. This is interpreted as a result of the recent rapid increase in patient numbers. Head Jung said, "Last week, the number of patients surged more than tenfold compared to previous weeks," adding, "Multiple secondary transmissions are occurring simultaneously at various locations and regions nationwide."

Regarding the recent elevation to social distancing level 2 starting today, it is expected to take about a week before the actual effects become apparent. After reviewing the situation following this weekend, the possibility of raising the level to stage 3 is also being seriously considered. Head Jung said, "We are continuously monitoring the pattern, scale, and speed of the spread and are contemplating the necessity of applying stage 3 on a daily basis," adding, "Within the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, discussions on the necessity, timing, and methods are ongoing and under review."

She added, "The effectiveness depends on how well the public adheres to the distancing guidelines," and said, "We judge that it will take at least one week or more to see the impact of applying level 2."

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