Government Reviewing Level 3 Social Distancing Rules, Decision and Timing Undecided

"Quarantine Management Network and Medical System at Manageable Levels"
Low Possibility of Immediate Elevation to Social Distancing Level 3
Large Marts Allowed but Only for Essential Goods Purchases
Considering Ban on Small Gatherings Based on Recent Infection Trends

A food street in downtown Seoul appears quiet despite it being lunchtime. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] On the 17th, the government clarified that rumors about considering raising social distancing to Level 3 and reviewing specific details are not true. Given the significant ripple effects across society, the government emphasized that if the issue is formally placed on the meeting agenda, it will be announced in advance.

The Level 3 quarantine guidelines announced earlier last month are currently being refined in coordination with relevant central administrative departments and local governments, as some parts are deemed inappropriate considering the recent patterns of COVID-19 outbreaks. However, the government stated that Level 3 should be implemented only when the situation worsens to the point where tracking and managing confirmed cases or the patient treatment system no longer function properly, which is not the case at present.

On the 17th, Son Young-rae, head of the Strategic Planning Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said during a back briefing, "The key criteria for deciding on Level 3 are mainly two: whether the quarantine control network has been lost and whether the medical system's capacity has been exceeded," adding, "So far, it can be judged that there is still some capacity to endure the situation."

The quarantine control network refers to efforts such as identifying contacts and isolating them to prevent additional infections when new confirmed cases are found. The medical system refers to whether there is capacity to admit patients. Son said, "If either of these two conditions is met, despite the enormous social damage, we would attempt to reduce patients by raising to Level 3," adding, "Currently, neither side has reached that stage yet."

On the 17th, as the third wave of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) continued, medical staff were removing frost from their face shields at the temporary screening clinic near Sogang University Station in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Kim Woo-young, Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs of Seoul, announced that 423 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Seoul on the 16th, the highest daily number ever recorded. The previous record for the highest daily cases in Seoul was 399 on the 12th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

"Medical system capacity higher than during the 2nd wave"
New patients are many but manageable

Although new confirmed cases have been reported daily in the thousands, and the key indicator of domestic cases has exceeded the threshold (an average of 800 to 1000 cases per day over a week), it is judged to be at a manageable level. Compared to the second wave in the Seoul metropolitan area during August and September, the number of patients has more than doubled, but patient capacity and other factors have been increased.

Nevertheless, as the trend is likely to exceed the critical threshold if it continues, the government is also considering Level 3 and refining quarantine guidelines. It emphasized that if the issue of raising to Level 3 is to be placed on the agenda of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting in the future, it will be announced sufficiently in advance to reduce confusion.

Son said, "The purpose of the distancing level is to reduce congestion, and recently infections have been spreading through small gatherings and daily life, so we are reviewing measures to strengthen management of these," adding, "Essential stores such as groceries and pharmacies will remain open, while others will be suspended in consultation with related ministries."

He continued, "Regarding large supermarkets, rather than a uniform area standard, we are considering allowing operation focused on essential goods purchases while blocking other purposes," adding, "We are finalizing measures one by one by synthesizing opinions from each ministry and the quarantine judgment of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency."

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