Park Neung-hoo: "Third Wave Peak Hard to Gauge, Total Crisis... Capital Region in Wartime Situation"

"Daily COVID-19 cases may exceed 1,000 in 1-2 weeks"... Public cooperation in quarantine is crucial

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] "We are currently facing a comprehensive crisis phase where it is difficult to gauge how high the peak of the third wave will rise."

Park Neung-hoo, First Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (Minister of Health and Welfare), stated in his opening remarks at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting held at the Government Seoul Office on the 7th, "Despite a decrease in testing volume over the weekend, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 has remained in the 600s for two consecutive days," adding, "This is an unprecedented scale."

Deputy Head Park expressed concern, saying, "The number of new confirmed cases in the metropolitan area reached 470 on the 6th, the highest since the outbreak of COVID-19," and "The metropolitan area is already in a wartime situation regarding COVID-19."

He added, "If the current trend continues, the pessimistic forecast that daily confirmed cases could exceed 1,000 within 1 to 2 weeks may become a reality," and "The government has adjusted the social distancing level in the metropolitan area to 2.5, which is a 'strict restriction' level, and to level 2 in non-metropolitan areas, designating the next three weeks until the end of the year as a special quarantine period."

Accordingly, indoor sports facilities and academies in the metropolitan area will be prohibited from gathering for the next three weeks. Study rooms and PC rooms can only be used until 9 p.m., and sauna and jjimjil facilities in bathhouses will be closed.

In non-metropolitan areas, cafes will be allowed to operate all day, but restaurants will only be permitted to offer takeout and delivery after 9 p.m.

Deputy Head Park emphasized, "If the spread is not contained even at level 2.5 in the metropolitan area, an explosive nationwide outbreak could become a reality, leading to the collapse of the medical system, making it inevitable to adjust to level 3 nationwide," and stressed, "The active participation of the public is urgently needed."

He urged, "The next three weeks will be a crucial opportunity and a difficult hurdle to determine whether the explosive increase in COVID-19 can be curbed," and requested, "Cancel unnecessary outings and gatherings until the end of the year, and even in unavoidable gatherings, refrain from talking while eating and drinking, and strictly wear masks when conversing."

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