"If Social Distancing Continues, New Confirmed Cases Will Enter the 400s Sooner"

[Asia Economy Reporter Joselgina] As the number of new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in South Korea has stalled in the 600s for two consecutive days, health authorities stated that if the currently applied social distancing measures (Level 2.5 in the metropolitan area and Level 2 in non-metropolitan areas) are properly followed, the daily cases can be reduced more quickly to the 400s.

Im Suk-young, the Situation General Manager of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said at a regular briefing on the 9th, "Behavioral factors are the most important for the continued decrease in confirmed cases."

Im said, "If people continue to participate in social distancing as they have done so far and cancel gatherings and meals where infections could occur, we can enter the 400-500 new cases range corresponding to Level 2 social distancing more quickly."

He emphasized that the number of new patients must be reduced further to smoothly transition to the COVID-19 vaccination phase. He added, "Although the third wave shows a gradual decline, strong social distancing must continue for the time being. To smoothly connect the end of the third wave and the vaccination starting from the end of February, we need to control the patient occurrence more quickly and at a lower level."

Additionally, Im stated, "In infection-vulnerable facilities such as nursing hospitals, once an infection occurs, it can spread on a large scale and may lead to severe illness, so a preemptive protection strategy for residents is very important. We will do our best to end the third wave quickly through social distancing and preemptive testing strategies."

Regarding recent concerns that the decrease in new confirmed cases might be due to a reduction in testing caused by the cold wave, he responded, "It should be seen as an overall decrease in confirmed cases rather than an effect of reduced testing." While it is cautious to say that the decline is complete, the trend is somewhat gradually decreasing.

On this day, the number of new confirmed cases was 641, maintaining the 600s for two consecutive days. The number has remained below 1,000 for five consecutive days.

Since the new year, the daily new confirmed cases recorded were 1027 → 820 → 657 → 1020 → 714 → 838 → 869 → 674 → 641, staying below 1,000 except for two days.

However, cluster infections continue to occur nationwide. While cluster infections centered around churches are spreading nationwide, new cluster infections linked to taxi companies and medical institutions have also been confirmed.

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