Domestic Daily Cases Exceed 100... Possibility of Social Distancing Adjustments Increases

On the 10th, with 100 new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection maintaining triple digits for the third consecutive day, citizens who visited the screening clinic set up at the National Medical Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, are waiting to be tested. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Over the past week, the daily average number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has exceeded 100, increasing the likelihood of adjustments to social distancing levels.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 12th at midnight, there were 143 new confirmed cases. Except for one day (the 7th) during this period, the daily number of domestic cases exceeded 100, with an average of 102.6 cases per day.

Kang Do-tae, the first chief coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, stated, "Sporadic cluster infections in everyday life spaces such as workplaces, schools, gatherings, and multi-use facilities have continued, resulting in domestic confirmed cases exceeding 100 on consecutive days."

Under the revised social distancing guidelines, the condition for raising to level 1.5 is a daily average of domestic cases over one week of 100 in the metropolitan area, 30 in the Chungcheong, Honam, Gyeongbuk, and Gyeongnam regions, and 10 or more in the Gangwon and Jeju regions.

The metropolitan area, along with Cheonan and Asan in Chungnam, Wonju in Gangwon, and Suncheon in Jeonnam, is considered a candidate for the next social distancing upgrade. The metropolitan area's daily average confirmed cases over one week is 69.3, an increase of 2.3 from the previous day. In fact, among the 128 locally transmitted cases on this day, 68.8% (88 cases) were in the metropolitan area. By region, Seoul had the highest number with 52 cases, followed by Gyeonggi (34 cases) and Incheon (2 cases).

If level 1.5 is applied in the metropolitan area, dancing and moving between seats will be prohibited in entertainment facilities such as clubs, room salons, danranjumeok (karaoke bars), emotional pubs, colatecs, and hunting pochas (outdoor bars). In restaurants and cafes, social distancing and the installation standards for partitions between tables will be strengthened from 150㎡ at level 1 to 50㎡.

General management facilities such as PC rooms, wedding halls, funeral halls, bathhouses, arcades, and multi-rooms will be limited to one person per 4㎡. In Seoul, city bus operations after 9 PM will be reduced by 20%.

Son Young-rae, head of strategic planning at the Central Accident Response Headquarters, expressed concern, saying, "As the spread of infection continues and silent transmission in the community persists, there is always a risk of a sudden rapid spread. If the current increasing trend continues, the social distancing level could be raised within 2 to 3 weeks."

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