"Please Self-Isolate" Despite Symptoms, Visiting Sauna and Funeral Hall... Citizens Express 'Anxiety'

Symptomatic Patients Continue Outdoor Activities Despite Testing
New COVID-19 Cases Return to 300s After Three Days
Government: "Greatest Quarantine Crisis in 7 Months Since COVID Outbreak"
Experts: "Raise Awareness by Elevating to Level 3"

On the 24th, when Seoul implemented the mandatory mask-wearing policy, citizens were seen walking on the streets of Guro-gu, Seoul, wearing masks. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon, Intern Reporter Kang Joo-hee] As the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) cluster infections are spreading nationwide, cases of people with symptoms or those who have undergone COVID-19 testing not self-isolating and engaging in outside activities are occurring one after another, increasing public anxiety. Despite the serious spread of COVID-19, some citizens' lack of safety awareness remains a concern.

Experts emphasized the need to raise awareness of the current COVID-19 situation by implementing a level 3 social distancing upgrade.

According to Chuncheon city health authorities, Mr. A (Chuncheon case number 18), in his 60s residing in Toegye-dong, Chuncheon, experienced fever and respiratory symptoms on the 19th and visited the public health center's screening clinic on the 22nd, where he was confirmed positive that day. However, it was confirmed that despite suspected COVID-19 symptoms, Mr. A visited a large sauna on the 20th, two days before his positive diagnosis. He also visited an internal medicine clinic in downtown Chuncheon on the 18th and 21st.

Meanwhile, Mr. A's daughter and her husband (Chuncheon case numbers 23 and 24), who live with him, visited a funeral home on the 22nd despite the risk of infection while waiting for Mr. A's test results. The couple underwent testing at the screening clinic around 6:30 p.m. that day and were also confirmed positive two days later on the 24th.

In Seoul, there was a case where a person with suspected symptoms visited a public health center but violated self-isolation guidelines and went to work.

According to Seoul city and others, Mr. B, a bus driver in his 60s, showed symptoms such as headache on the 19th and underwent diagnostic testing at Gangseo Public Health Center on the morning of the 20th. However, immediately after the test, he went to work as usual and operated a local bus traveling between Guro-dong in Guro-gu and Seoul National University in Gwanak-gu for about eight hours starting at 2:40 p.m. After Mr. A was confirmed positive, two other bus drivers from the same company also tested positive consecutively.

On the morning of the 21st, citizens lined up to get tested at the COVID-19 screening clinic set up at Seongbuk-gu Public Health Center in Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News.

As cases of some citizens not following quarantine rules despite having suspected symptoms or undergoing diagnostic testing continue to occur, public anxiety is growing.

Office worker A (28) said, "It seems some people have no sense of urgency. They knew they might get infected and even had symptoms and got tested, yet they openly engage in outside activities, showing no awareness that they could spread the virus because of themselves." He added, "Since my job doesn’t allow remote work, I have to go out, but I feel anxious every day wondering if there are people around me who have symptoms and are still going around."

Another office worker, Mr. B (35), said, "Because of people not following quarantine rules, local residents, people who were in the same space, and small business owners who have to close after a confirmed case visits all suffer damage. Even if infection is unavoidable, I hope people will be careful for each other during times like these."

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun is speaking while presiding over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting for the response to the novel coronavirus infection held at the Government Complex Sejong in Sejong City on the morning of the 14th. Photo by Yonhap News

Despite upgrading social distancing to level 2, the number of confirmed cases showed no sign of decreasing, prompting the government to declare the current domestic COVID-19 situation as the 'greatest crisis' and repeatedly emphasize compliance with quarantine rules.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun expressed concern at the COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting held at the Government Seoul Office, saying, "Seven months after the first domestic COVID-19 case, we are facing the greatest crisis in quarantine. Our quarantine system is reaching its limit day by day. If the situation does not improve, we will have no choice but to apply level 3 social distancing."

He continued, "Upgrading to level 3 would effectively halt almost all economic and social activities, so it is not a decision to be made lightly. Our urgent task is to fully implement level 2 measures first," and urged, "I ask the public to remember that following quarantine rules is the only way for our community to overcome this crisis."

The number of COVID-19 confirmed cases is still increasing. According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, the number of new confirmed cases on the previous day (26th) was 320. Although the number of confirmed cases slightly decreased to the 200s over the past weekend, it returned to the 300s within three days.

Since the metropolitan area cluster infections began in earnest on the 14th of this month, the daily new confirmed cases have been 103→166→279→197→246→297→288→324→332→397→266→280→320, marking triple digits for 13 consecutive days. During this period, a total of 3,495 new cases occurred, bringing the cumulative confirmed cases to 18,265.

Of the 320 new confirmed cases, 13 were imported from overseas, and 307 occurred locally, with 229 of those in the metropolitan area. Additionally, cluster infections continue in provinces with 18 in Gangwon, 12 each in Chungnam and Jeonnam, 7 each in Gwangju, Daejeon, and Jeonbuk, 5 in Gyeongnam, 4 in Busan, and 2 each in Daegu, Ulsan, and Jeju.

Meanwhile, experts suggested the need to raise awareness of the current COVID-19 situation by implementing level 3 social distancing.

Professor Kim Woo-joo, an infectious disease specialist at Korea University Guro Hospital, told Asia Economy in a phone interview, "Some policies implemented to revitalize the economy from July to early August have greatly lowered awareness of COVID-19. The continued occurrence of cases not following quarantine rules indicates a lowered sense of risk regarding virus infection."

He added, "Although the number of new confirmed cases was recorded in the 300s on the 26th, this is the number confirmed by quarantine authorities, not the actual number of patients. The authorities conduct epidemiological investigations and contact tracing when confirmed cases occur, but the simultaneous occurrence of confirmed cases in the metropolitan area and provinces means quarantine control is failing and infection chains are not being found."

Professor Kim emphasized, "I have continuously stressed the need to upgrade to level 3 social distancing. We should consider not only the number of confirmed cases but also the current situation where quarantine control is failing. Even yesterday, confirmed cases occurred in everyday places like apartments in Guro and hair salons. This means the virus has deeply penetrated daily life. Some worry about the economic impact of a level 3 upgrade, but if confirmed cases surge, issues like manpower and hospital bed shortages arise, leading to socio-economic costs anyway. We need a short but intense level 3 upgrade for about 5 to 7 days to achieve definite control."

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