Social Distancing Level Adjustment Plan to be Announced on the 26th

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] The adjustment plan for the 'social distancing' levels and quarantine rules to prevent COVID-19 is scheduled to be announced on the 26th.

Yoon Tae-ho, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) quarantine team, stated at the regular COVID-19 briefing held at the Government Complex Sejong on the 24th, "We plan to announce the social distancing adjustment plan to be implemented from next week on Friday (the 26th)."

The current social distancing levels, which were lowered on the 15th to Level 2 in the metropolitan area and Level 1.5 in non-metropolitan areas, will end on the 28th. The government is carefully reviewing the COVID-19 outbreak situation over the past two weeks and is considering adjustments not only to the social distancing levels but also to major quarantine measures such as the ban on private gatherings of five or more people.

Yoon explained, "After the Lunar New Year holiday, as social distancing measures have been eased, mobility has increased," adding, "Analyzing nationwide mobility last weekend, there were about 64 million movements, which is a 7.6% increase compared to the previous week." He further explained, "Overall, weekend mobility continues to rise," noting, "It has increased by about 42% compared to early last month."

Regarding the COVID-19 outbreak situation, Yoon said, "Looking at the trend in confirmed cases, the number of patients decreases on weekends due to reduced testing and increases on weekdays as testing increases, showing a significant pattern of repeated fluctuations," and "I think this pattern is likely to continue for the time being." He added, "Considering this trend, we are carefully deliberating adjustments to the social distancing levels."

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