Jeong Eun-kyung: "Spread Continues Despite Strengthened Distancing... Level 3 Escalation Still Under Review"

Jung Eun-kyung, Head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters (Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency) [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] Despite the strengthening of 'social distancing' measures, the quarantine authorities have stated that the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in South Korea is not subsiding, and they have repeatedly urged the active implementation of special quarantine measures for the year-end and New Year holidays.

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH), explained at a regular briefing on the 26th, "The nationwide daily average number of confirmed cases over the past week was 1,017, indicating that the spread of COVID-19 is not subsiding but maintaining," adding, "The positive rate of tests for suspected patients exceeds 2%, showing that the risk of community infection is very high, especially in the metropolitan area."

The positive rate, calculated as confirmed cases relative to the number of tests, was 2.17% (1,241 out of 57,147 tests) as of midnight on the 25th, and was recorded at 3.77% (1,132 out of 30,058 tests) on the same day.

Head Jung emphasized, "Cluster outbreaks continue mainly in COVID-19 vulnerable facilities such as nursing hospitals and nursing homes, detention centers, foreigner communities, workplaces with enclosed and close environments, and religious facilities," adding, "To block the third wave, it is important to minimize contact between people during this weekend and the year-end and New Year holidays."

He further explained the difference between the 'second wave' in August and the current 'third large wave,' stating, "August was summer, and the sources of infection were not widespread, so the spread could be curbed through epidemiological investigations and distancing," but "this time, due to winter factors and as can be seen from the positive rate of anonymous tests, there is an accumulation of 'cumulative infected individuals,' so despite continuous strengthening of distancing, the epidemic trend is not subsiding."

Regarding the possibility of raising social distancing to level 3 in the metropolitan area, Head Jung responded, "In addition to the 2.5-level measures, we are implementing nationwide special quarantine measures for the year-end and New Year holidays while monitoring the trend," adding, "Although there is no rapid spread currently, there is concern about the spread of community infection through contacts, so we are continuously reviewing this with local governments and ministries."

The government plans to hold a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) on the 27th to discuss and finalize adjustments to social distancing measures, including whether to raise to level 3. Currently, the possibility of maintaining the extension of level 2.5 is gaining support.

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