Jeong Eun-kyung "Next week 1,200 cases... United pause needed to prevent last Christmas for elderly with underlying conditions" (Summary)

Daily 1,000-1,200 Confirmed Cases Expected... "Not Enough to Turn the Peak Around"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] "To prevent elderly patients with underlying conditions from having their last Christmas due to infection, unified restraint and cancellation of face-to-face gatherings are necessary."

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said at the regular briefing on the domestic outbreak status of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) on the 21st, "This week is a meaningful week with Christmas," and urged again, "Please cancel face-to-face gatherings such as religious events, year-end parties, alumni meetings, and company dinners while reflecting on the true meaning of Christmas, which is to share warm comfort and hope."

Head Jung said, "Today, the cumulative number of infections has exceeded 50,000, and the number of deaths reached 24, the highest so far," adding, "The positive rate of tests among suspected patients has also risen above 2%, showing an increasing trend, especially in the metropolitan area where the risk of community infection has become very high."

He particularly forecasted that if the recent spread continues, up to about 1,200 confirmed cases per day could occur in the future.

He said, "Last week, the infection reproduction number was about 1.28, and predicting the number of confirmed cases with this figure, it is expected that between 1,000 and 1,200 cases per day will occur next week." He added, "There is room for the number of patients to decrease as social distancing reduces contact between people, but if a large-scale cluster outbreak occurs, like the case at the Seoul Eastern Detention Center, the number of confirmed cases could exceed this."

Head Jung expressed concern, saying, "The people we need to protect are elderly seniors who are also our parents and patients with underlying conditions," and "If the scale of community infection increases, the epidemic will spread to vulnerable facilities through workers, eventually leading to severe cases and deaths."

Accordingly, the quarantine authorities plan to strengthen COVID-19 prevention management in vulnerable facilities such as nursing hospitals by mandating periodic proactive testing for workers through administrative orders. From the 21st, the testing interval for all workers in vulnerable facilities such as nursing hospitals and psychiatric hospitals will be shortened from 2 weeks to 1 week in the metropolitan area, and from 4 weeks to 2 weeks in non-metropolitan areas.

Additionally, through administrative orders for vulnerable facilities, all workers are prohibited from private gatherings after work to block the spread of infections within institutions caused by external infection sources. Facility heads must designate quarantine managers and fulfill mandatory duties such as periodic proactive testing of workers, prohibition of private gatherings, constant mask-wearing, symptom checks, and measures for people within the institution. Failure to comply will result in measures such as restrictions on compensation for medical institution losses, reduction of health insurance benefits, and claims for damages.

Head Jung emphasized, "As contact between people increases during Christmas and the year-end holidays, the spread of transmission by asymptomatic and mild cases is very concerning," adding, "The remaining period in December is a critical time when government quarantine measures and public compliance with quarantine rules are very important."

He continued, "Given the current situation, the best way to respond to COVID-19 is to properly follow basic quarantine rules," and added, "Please cancel gatherings with people other than cohabiting family members, wear masks indoors, and be especially careful when eating or talking with close friends."

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