"Level 2.5, Relaxation or Extension?"... Government Faces Growing Dilemma, Will Monitor Situation Until Weekend

Enhanced Level 2 Social Distancing in the Seoul Metropolitan Area Ends on the 13th
Japan's New COVID-19 Cases Steadily in the 100s... Recently Rising Again
Prime Minister Jeong: "Premature Easing Could Lead to Greater Suffering Due to Resurgence"

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The government is deeply deliberating whether to extend the high-intensity quarantine measures currently applied in the Seoul metropolitan area once more. The 2.5-level social distancing, which is a step stronger than the 2nd level, is set to end on the 13th, but the expected effects of social distancing have not materialized as anticipated. Since the damage to self-employed individuals and small business owners is significant, the plan was to apply the measures for about half a month in a "short and intense" manner. However, the number of new confirmed cases of COVID-19 has not decreased, and sporadic cluster infections with unknown infection routes continue steadily, putting the government in a dilemma.

New Cases That Had Been Declining Rise Again
"Concerned as Numbers Remain in the Mid-100s"

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 11th, as of midnight, 176 new confirmed cases were recorded. The number had surged to the 400s in late last month but dropped to the 100s on the 3rd of this month, only to fluctuate over the past week. The number of new cases on this day is the highest in the recent week.

The authorities initially implemented the 2.5-level social distancing targeting the metropolitan area with the goal of reducing new cases to double digits. However, nearly two weeks later, achieving this goal remains difficult. The authorities adjust the social distancing level by qualitatively assessing the overall trend, infection routes, and characteristics of outbreak clusters rather than daily new case numbers. The average daily new cases over the past week reached 154, and the proportion of cases with unknown infection routes exceeds 20%, indicating that objective indicators surpass the 2nd level social distancing criteria.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun is speaking at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting on COVID-19 response held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 11th. Photo by Jang Jin-hyeong aymsdream@

However, since the 2.5-level measures have severely impacted small business owners and self-employed individuals due to restrictions on restaurants, cafes, and academies, it is not easy to readily decide on extending social distancing again. After the measures were applied on the 30th of last month, it was said that it takes 1 to 2 weeks to see the effects of social distancing, and an extension was made once. According to the original plan, the spread should have been significantly curbed by this week, allowing for a gradual easing of quarantine measures, but the conditions to make such a decision have not been met. The government has emphasized "harmonizing daily life and quarantine," but there is a risk of losing both goals.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting on the day, "Considering the many citizens who willingly endure sacrifices for quarantine, we want to lift restrictions as soon as possible, but we worry that premature easing could lead to a resurgence and greater suffering," adding, "Despite strong social distancing, since the 3rd, daily confirmed cases have stubbornly remained in the mid-100s, which causes greater concern."

Access to the rehabilitation ward of Sinchon Severance Hospital in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, where new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection have occurred on the 10th, is being restricted. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

New Cluster Outbreaks Continue in the Metropolitan Area
Decision on 2.5-Level Extension to Be Made Over the Weekend

New outbreak clusters are emerging across the metropolitan area, and existing clusters continue to report cases steadily. Recent cluster infections include 18 cases at Severance Hospital in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 8 cases among green space management workers at Jongno-gu Office, and 11 cases related to a door-to-door sales briefing in Bucheon City. Additional confirmed cases continue to appear in previously affected clusters such as the August 15th rally in downtown Seoul, religious facilities, logistics centers, club meetings, restaurants, and workplaces.

There are also criticisms that the prolonged social distancing measures have led to accumulated fatigue, reducing their effectiveness. According to authorities, after the 2.5-level measures, mobility in the metropolitan area and usage of public transportation and credit cards slightly increased over the weekends. This has led to comments that social distancing is not being properly observed, while only innocent small business owners are suffering.

The government plans to comprehensively assess the domestic situation, including the effectiveness of quarantine measures, and decide whether to adjust the social distancing level over this weekend. Prime Minister Chung said, "Although it is not sufficient, there is still time," adding, "We will observe the situation for another day or two, listen carefully to expert opinions, and decide on the future direction of quarantine measures."

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