Jungsubon: "Avoid Travel During Chuseok Holiday... 'Complacency' Is a Factor in COVID-19 Spread"

Yoon Tae-ho, Head of Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' Quarantine Division, "Stay at Home... Discussing Support Methods"
Regarding Gaecheonjeol Rally, "Should Refrain for Our Society's Safety"

On the 1st, a notice was posted at Seoul Station informing that Chuseok holiday train tickets will be sold exclusively online and by phone in advance to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Yeon-ju] As the government extended social distancing level 2.5 for one more week to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), health authorities urged people to refrain from visiting their hometowns and ancestral graves during the upcoming Chuseok holiday.

Yoon Tae-ho, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters' quarantine team, said in an interview with MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' on the 7th, "We believe that public complacency and movement during the Chuseok holiday period are factors contributing to the spread of COVID-19 infection," adding, "Therefore, we announced that measures equivalent to level 2 will be implemented during the Chuseok holiday."

Yoon said, "We see the Chuseok holiday as another critical moment," and explained, "There will be continuous announcements of follow-up measures related to two messages: to refrain from visiting hometown relatives as much as possible and to stay at home during the Chuseok holiday."

He added, "In particular, guidelines on how to stay at home and what kind of support is needed will be presented soon, and through these, plans to minimize movement as much as possible will be prepared."

He continued, "Even if you go to your hometown, please use a private vehicle, minimize the number of attendees at the ancestral rites at home, stay for as short a time as possible, and be sure to wear masks thoroughly even at home," adding, "Since staying at home continuously may become boring in many ways, discussions on how to provide support are underway."

Regarding the consideration of movement restriction measures during the Chuseok holiday, he said, "If local governments restrict traffic movement, nationwide movement restrictions will naturally occur," but added, "However, legally restricting movement across provincial boundaries is considered excessive."

Regarding the number of assemblies applied for on the upcoming National Foundation Day on October 3rd, he said, "Social distancing measures equivalent to level 2 prohibit gatherings of 10 to over 100 people. Whether to apply these measures temporarily during the Chuseok holiday or continuously needs to be decided," emphasizing, "Since assemblies played a major role as a catalyst for the increase in confirmed cases in August, we sincerely hope that people will refrain from such activities for the safety of our society."

Meanwhile, the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced that as of 0:00 on the 7th, the daily number of new COVID-19 cases increased by 119, bringing the total to 21,296. The number of new cases has remained in the 100s for five consecutive days since the 3rd.

Park Neung-hoo, the first head of the CDCH, said at the CDCH meeting held at the Government Seoul Office on the same day, "Although the daily confirmed cases were 434 on August 27, the number has remained in the 100s for five days until today," adding, "This is a result of the active participation and patience of the public showing gradual effects."

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