Social Distancing Adjustment Plan to be Announced on the 13th... Will It Be Eased This Time?

Increased Risk Factors Including Yeongsaenggyo-related Group Infection and Variants

On the 3rd, citizens are waiting for tests at a temporary COVID-19 screening clinic set up at Seoul Plaza. The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight that day, the number of new domestic COVID-19 cases increased by 467, bringing the total to 79,311. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] The government will announce the adjusted social distancing measures to be applied after the Lunar New Year holiday on the 13th. Amid growing fatigue due to the prolonged high-intensity distancing measures, the daily number of new confirmed cases has yet to stabilize. Additionally, with many variables such as cluster infections originating from religious facilities and the spread of variant viruses, the concerns of the quarantine authorities are deepening.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH), the number of new COVID-19 cases recorded was 289 (on the 8th) → 303 (on the 9th) → 444 (on the 10th). The number of confirmed cases dropped to around the 300s due to the weekend effect, where testing volume decreases in the early part of the week, but then surged again.

The resurgence of COVID-19 was ignited by cluster infections continuing across the country. In particular, since the 9th, infections have rapidly increased centered around the Yeongsaenggyo Seungri Sect and private academies in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, raising tension. On the 9th, 20 people at the Seungri Sect and 33 at private academies were confirmed positive, totaling 53 cases, with an additional 43 confirmed the following day. As a result, the cumulative number of confirmed cases related to the Yeongsaenggyo Seungri Sect and private academies reached 96.

The spread of variant viruses is also a concern. As of the 9th, the cumulative number of variant virus infections in the country is 80. As of 1 p.m. the previous day, three additional cases were confirmed in Gimhae and Yangsan, indicating ongoing infection cases.

Accordingly, ahead of the social distancing level adjustment scheduled for the 13th, the quarantine authorities’ calculations have become more complicated. Currently, social distancing measures are applied at level 2.5 in the metropolitan area and level 2 in non-metropolitan areas. Additionally, a ban on private gatherings of five or more people is separately enforced. Previously, the government allowed multi-use facilities in non-metropolitan areas, where the number of confirmed cases is relatively low, to operate until 10 p.m. starting from the 8th, extending by one hour, while maintaining other quarantine rules during the Lunar New Year holiday period.

For now, the prevailing analysis leans toward the government finding it difficult to ease the current quarantine measures. Besides the increased risk of further transmission due to new cluster infections, the average daily number of confirmed cases and the infection reproduction number in the metropolitan area have actually increased compared to the previous week, adding to the burden.

Yoon Tae-ho, head of the Central Accident Response Headquarters’ quarantine team, stated at the regular COVID-19 briefing the day before, “We do not make policy decisions or consider adjustments to social distancing levels based solely on daily fluctuations in confirmed cases,” adding, “We will take measures by reviewing the overall trend and the situation over the past week.”

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