Park Neung-hoo "Considering Raising Metropolitan and Gangwon Areas to Level 1.5... Serious Situation" (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] "In the Seoul metropolitan area and Gangwon region, the situation is serious enough to consider raising social distancing to level 1.5, and we are giving this advance notice."

Park Neung-hoo, 1st Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Minister of Health and Welfare), announced a public appeal during the regular briefing on the response to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) on the 15th, stating, "If we fail to curb the current upward trend, raising the social distancing level is inevitable."

Deputy Head Park said, "The number of newly confirmed cases in the country has exceeded 100 for five consecutive days," adding, "From the 8th to the 14th of this month, the average daily number of domestic cases last week was 122.4, a significant increase compared to 88.7 the previous week."

He expressed concern, saying, "Since the Chuseok holiday period in September, the number of cases has gradually increased, and from mid-last month, this trend has become more pronounced. Unlike before, large-scale infections in specific facilities or groups are not appearing; rather, cluster infections are occurring sequentially throughout daily life, including family and acquaintances' gatherings and workplaces."

He also mentioned that the proportion of patients aged 40 and below recently reached 50%, showing a characteristic of infection spreading mainly among younger generations.

Last Week's Infection Reproduction Number Exceeds 1.2
Seoul Metropolitan Area Exceeds 80% of 100-Case Threshold for Level 1.5 Raise

Deputy Head Park said, "The government has been striving to suppress case occurrences at the level of social distancing 1, but last week's infection reproduction number exceeded 1.2, and the management rate within the quarantine network is below 60%. Considering this transmission pattern and speed, we judge that despite the suppression and blocking efforts of the quarantine authorities, the COVID-19 epidemic has begun to spread, marking a crisis situation."

He specifically mentioned that the Seoul metropolitan area and Gangwon region are in a serious situation that requires consideration of raising social distancing to level 1.5.

Deputy Head Park said, "In the Seoul metropolitan area, the average daily number of patients from the 8th to the 14th of this month was 83.4, exceeding 80% of the 100-case threshold for raising to level 1.5. In the Gangwon region, the average daily number of patients last week was 11.1, already reaching the 10-case threshold for level 1.5 raise."

However, considering that the current cluster infections are concentrated in the Yeongseo area, the decision to raise the level for the entire Gangwon region will be carefully reviewed.

Deputy Head Park said, "In other regions, such as Chungcheong with 9.9 cases, Honam with 9.7 cases, and Gyeongnam with 5.1 cases, there is a slight increase, but these do not yet meet the level 1.5 criteria. For the Seoul metropolitan area and Gangwon region, the decision on raising social distancing levels will be made in consultation with local governments, considering various reference indicators such as the proportion of patients aged 60 and above and the capacity of intensive care beds."

Deputy Head Park emphasized that over the past 300 days, numerous crises were overcome thanks to the active efforts of the public in practicing daily quarantine measures. He said, "During the outbreaks in Daegu and Gyeongbuk in February, the Itaewon outbreak in May, and the metropolitan area outbreak in August, the public willingly endured daily inconveniences and economic hardships and did their best to maintain social distancing in daily life, which helped prevent large-scale epidemic spread."

He explained that globally, the infection reproduction number has surged beyond 3 to 4, causing massive epidemics, but South Korea has managed to suppress it to around 1, controlling the spread to sporadic cases.

However, the quarantine authorities judge that we are facing a crisis situation once again.

"Suppressing at Level 1 is the Best"
The Only Answer to Prevent the Current Crisis is Daily Quarantine

Deputy Head Park said, "If we fail to curb the current upward trend, raising social distancing is inevitable. Since raising social distancing causes significant difficulties to the public's daily life and the economy, as we have already experienced, suppressing the spread at level 1 is the best option."

He also emphasized, "If the public shows just a little more of the resilience demonstrated so far and slows the infection spread even slightly, we can overcome the crisis without raising the level."

He said, "Recent cluster infection cases are appearing rapidly throughout daily life. Most occur in situations where mask-wearing is difficult, such as prolonged stays in enclosed spaces, so we ask everyone to avoid situations where mask-wearing is difficult, especially during meals."

He particularly urged households with seniors aged 60 and above to be especially cautious. Deputy Head Park said, "Please always be vigilant about cluster infections at workplaces. Those working in environments where many droplets are generated in enclosed spaces should always be mindful of the possibility of infection."

He added, "Until COVID-19 treatments and vaccines are available, the only answer to prevent the current crisis is practicing daily quarantine measures. Always be cautious of closed, crowded, and close-contact environments, wear masks indoors, maintain social distancing and handwashing, and ensure regular ventilation and disinfection."

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