One Day Before Social Distancing Adjustment Announcement... Government in 'Cautious Mode' Amid Ongoing Cluster Infections

Social Distancing Adjustment Plan to Be Announced on the 31st for Implementation Next Month

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] As the number of new domestic COVID-19 cases remained in the 400s for three consecutive days, dark clouds gathered over the easing of social distancing measures.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's Central Disease Control Headquarters announced on the 30th at midnight that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country increased by 458. Although this was a slight decrease compared to the previous day (469 cases), the number remained in the high 400s for three consecutive days.

The halt in the decline of confirmed cases is due to the cluster infections originating from the IM Mission and the continuous occurrence of large and small cluster outbreaks nationwide. As of the previous day, six educational facilities operated by the IM Mission reported a cumulative total of 355 confirmed cases. Confirmed cases related to a welfare facility in Jung-gu, Seoul, increased to 35, and workplace-related cases in Gangnam-gu rose to 44, indicating a surge in cluster outbreaks within local communities.

Moreover, concerns grew as cluster infections occurred in university hospitals. As of midnight on the same day, 22 new confirmed cases were reported at Hanyang University Hospital in Seoul. Since the first confirmed case on the 27th, a total of 27 patients, caregivers, and staff tested positive, prompting health authorities to implement cohort isolation measures.

Consequently, the government's dilemma over the social distancing adjustment plan to be applied from next month deepened. Initially, the government planned to announce the adjustment plan for the current 2.5-level distancing in the metropolitan area and level 2 in non-metropolitan areas on the 29th, but the schedule was postponed due to increasing variables. Since it is difficult to determine whether the current trend is a temporary increase or a return to an upward trend, the government decided to observe the situation for two more days.

Im Sook-young, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters' situation management team, said at a regular briefing that day, "The number of confirmed cases is currently increasing, and the infection reproduction number is above 1, so we believe the pattern of patient occurrence is slightly increasing." She added, "We are carefully monitoring and reviewing whether this is a temporary phenomenon or a complete reversal of the trend." The infection reproduction number indicates how many people one confirmed case infects. A value above 1 means the spread is increasing, while below 1 means the spread is decreasing. The infection reproduction number, which was significantly above 1 at the peak of the third wave last month, dropped to the 0.8 range this year.

The authorities are collecting opinions from local governments and field workers regarding the adjustment of distancing levels. During this process, various measures are being discussed, including partially easing the business restriction after 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. Amid this, it is expected that the ban on private gatherings of five or more people will likely be maintained.

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