Jeong Eun-kyung "Reviewing the Need for Additional Quarantine Measures During Halloween"

Last October, a parade event was held in Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul to celebrate Halloween. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] On the 12th, health authorities announced that if there is concern about the spread of infectious diseases due to gatherings mainly among young people during the Halloween event scheduled for the end of this month, additional measures may be taken. This is to avoid repeating similar mistakes, as there have been instances of mass outbreaks occurring when large numbers of people gathered during holidays or specific periods.

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said at a briefing that "Even if masks are worn, any event involving prolonged conversations or eating and drinking in enclosed spaces is risky," adding, "We will assess the risk level and review whether temporary quarantine rules or measures are necessary."

Halloween falls on the 31st, and recently, the number of people holding events domestically has significantly increased. Although social distancing was eased to level 1 starting that day, the risk of COVID-19 remains high, so health authorities emphasized that gatherings of many people indoors should be avoided.

Regarding the social distancing level 1 measures applied from that day, Director Jung described it as "another test for quarantine." The government lowered social distancing to level 1 after considering the recent epidemic situation, healthcare system capacity, the economy of ordinary citizens, and fatigue from prolonged quarantine measures. Director Jung said, "With 50 to 70 new confirmed cases daily and the possibility of latent infections and cluster infections, vigilance cannot be lowered," adding, "Whether we can safely protect our precious daily lives depends on the compliance with quarantine rules by the public and facility managers, management and inspection by the government and local governments, and epidemiological investigations and measures by quarantine officials working together."

Director Jung assessed that the domestic situation is still unfavorable. First, there is concern that quarantine rules may loosen among the public due to the downgrade of social distancing, and with the arrival of autumn, group trips such as hiking are likely to increase. He also expressed concern about the drop in temperature and humidity. He said, "The virus survival period lengthens, and indoor activities increase, which may lead to neglect of ventilation," adding, "In enclosed spaces, transmission is possible not only through droplets but also through limited aerosols."

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