Health Authorities: "Revising Social Distancing in Second Half Possible 'Provided Majority Immunity Secured'"

"Step Adjustment, Review of Measures with Significant Socioeconomic Impact"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] The quarantine authorities announced that social distancing measures in the second half of the year could be reorganized depending on the progress of COVID-19 vaccination.

On the 9th, Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, stated during the COVID-19 vaccine briefing, "If COVID-19 vaccinations proceed well within the first half of the year, there will be room to adjust the social distancing system in the second half."

He added, "Since the risk level of the outbreak itself decreases, adjustments to the phases or measures that cause excessive socioeconomic damage can be sufficiently considered. However, it is a prerequisite that a majority of the population has received the vaccine and that a considerable scale of immunity has been secured."

Meanwhile, regarding the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announcement on the 8th (local time) allowing fully vaccinated individuals to gather indoors without masks, the quarantine authorities expressed their intention to consider measures suitable for domestic circumstances.

Yoon Tae-ho, head of the Quarantine General Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, explained, "Each country's quarantine guidelines differ, and there are differences in the public's sensitivity to quarantine measures. We need to consider measures appropriate to our quarantine situation, and discussions with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency will be necessary regarding mask-wearing as vaccination rates increase."

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