"Number of Confirmed Cases Around 600 Not Decreasing... Positivity Rate Also Increased Fourfold" (Update)

Kang Do-tae, the 1st Chief Coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Vice Minister of Health and Welfare), is presiding over a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters and speaking. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The number of new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in South Korea is expected to continue spreading as around 600 new cases were reported again on the 8th.

Kang Do-tae, the 1st General Coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Vice Minister of Health and Welfare), emphasized at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting held that morning, "The number of (new) confirmed cases remains around 600 and is not decreasing," adding, "The proportion of confirmed cases with unknown infection routes accounts for 26% of the total, and the ratio of confirmed cases among those tested has increased fourfold."

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, the positivity rate, which indicates the proportion of confirmed cases among those tested, surged from the 1% range in October and November to the 4% range this month. Kang, the 1st General Coordinator, stated, "To block the spread of infection, the government will massively expand proactive diagnostic testing and focus its capabilities to ensure there is no disruption in securing intensive care beds," but expressed concern, "If the current infection trend does not subside, our medical system may find it difficult to endure."

He added, "There could be a dangerous situation where it becomes difficult to provide essential medical services such as emergency and critical care, not just COVID-19 patient treatment," and urged, "To prevent such an unfortunate event, all daily contacts must be minimized for the time being, and if you have any appointments, gatherings, or trips that have not yet been canceled, please cancel them for the safety of yourself, your family, and our society."

To curb the ongoing spread of COVID-19, the government raised the social distancing level to 2.5 in the metropolitan area for three weeks from midnight on the 8th until midnight on the 28th. Kang, the 1st General Coordinator, emphasized, "If we fail to overcome this critical moment, all of us will have to continue the painful fight against COVID-19 amid the contraction of daily life and the economy until vaccines and treatments are available," adding, "For daily life to return to normal, we must thoroughly control and manage all aspects of our lives for the next three weeks."

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