"Let's Extinguish All Fires Before Chuseok"... Health Authorities' All-Out Battle to Stop COVID-19

119 New COVID-19 Cases... Five Consecutive Days in the 100s
Spread During May and August Holidays, Concerns of Rebound During Chuseok Holiday
Designated Special Quarantine Period for Holidays and Recommendation to Refrain from Visiting Hometowns

With the "Enhanced Social Distancing Level 2" extended for another week until the 13th, on the 7th, commuters wearing masks are walking at Sindorim Station in Seoul during the morning rush hour. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporters Choi Dae-yeol and Kim Heung-soon] The number of new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) remained in the 100s for the fifth consecutive day, continuing the downward trend. It appears that the outbreak, which flared up mainly in churches in the metropolitan area in mid-last month, is being controlled through strong social distancing measures, but health authorities emphasized that vigilance should not be relaxed yet.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 7th, as of midnight that day, the number of new cases was 119 in total, including 108 domestic cases and 11 suspected imported cases. The number had increased to the 300-400 range in late last month but dropped below 200 on the 3rd and has remained in the 100s for five consecutive days. However, this is a combined effect of reduced diagnostic testing over the weekend, and it will only be clear after midweek whether the actual spread of infection has subsided.

According to authorities, the number of diagnostic tests conducted on suspected COVID-19 patients was 8,890 on Saturday and 5,362 on Sunday. Compared to over 20,000 tests conducted on busy weekdays, this is less than half. The number of severe and critical patients was 162, one less than the previous day, and two deaths were reported the day before.

Authorities believe that the social distancing measures implemented successively since mid-August are gradually showing effects. After raising social distancing to level 2 in the metropolitan area, a 2.5-level measure was applied within days, restricting operations of restaurants, cafes, and academies. Originally scheduled to end at midnight on this day, the measures were extended by one more week. The level 2 social distancing measures applied to non-metropolitan areas were also extended by two weeks. Considering that the effects of social distancing usually have a 1-2 week delay, it is highly likely that the 2.5-level measures will continue to reduce new cases this week.

On the 7th, citizens are waiting to get tested for COVID-19 at the screening clinic of Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

However, the situation remains challenging as there are a considerable number of critically ill patients and about one in five cases have unknown infection routes. Park Neung-hoo, the first head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said on the day, "The results of the active participation and patience of the public are gradually appearing," but added, "Cases continue to occur steadily across all regions nationwide, and 22% of cases have unknown infection routes, so we cannot afford to relax our vigilance."

Previously, cluster outbreaks occurred around the May and August holidays, so the health authorities’ goal is to keep sporadic infections that have spread in various places under control within the management network as much as possible before the upcoming Chuseok holiday at the end of this month. Declaring the holiday period as a special quarantine period and recommending refraining from visiting hometowns and relatives during Chuseok are in line with this approach. Although the number of new cases is decreasing, authorities believe it is practically impossible to completely control asymptomatic and latent infections during the remaining three weeks.

Park said, "If the large-scale movement during the holiday becomes a route for virus spread and infections spread nationwide again, we may have to endure greater sacrifices than now," and added, "Regrettably, we ask people to refrain from visiting their hometowns during the holiday and to rest at home."

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