Lee Jae-gap "Preliminary Warning Before Social Distancing Upgrade? Why Are There So Many?" Sigh

Professor Lee Jae-gap, Department of Infectious Diseases, Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Seul-gi] As the government announced that it would issue a preliminary alert for the Seoul metropolitan area and Gangwon region regarding the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and consider raising the social distancing level, Professor Lee Jae-gap of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital pointed out on the 15th, "What is the reason for the delay by one tempo?"

In a post on his Facebook on the same day, Professor Lee said, "A preliminary alert before raising to level 1.5? Why are there so many of these?"

He added, "Public messages during an infectious disease crisis must be clear and prompt. I can only sigh."

Earlier, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun stated at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting held at the Government Seoul Office on the same day, "While the global pandemic is worsening to its worst, the relatively stable infection spread in our country has recently become serious," and "The government will issue a preliminary alert today (the 15th) for the Seoul metropolitan area and Gangwon region and seriously consider raising the social distancing level."

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of midnight on the same day, the daily number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country was 208. Following 205 cases the previous day, the number of new confirmed cases exceeded 200 for two consecutive days.

According to the revised 'Social Distancing' guidelines implemented on the 7th, the government adjusts the distancing level based on the 'weekly average number of domestic confirmed cases.' Level 1 is maintained if the metropolitan area has fewer than 100 cases and non-metropolitan areas have fewer than 30 cases (10 cases for Gangwon and Jeju).

Social distancing level 1.5 is issued when the weekly average number of domestic confirmed cases is △ 100 or more in the metropolitan area △ 30 or more in the Chungcheong, Honam, Gyeongbuk, and Gyeongnam regions △ 10 or more in Gangwon and Jeju.

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