Government: "Impact of COVID-19 '3rd Wave' Continues"... Urges Cooperation in Quarantine Measures

"Over 400 Daily COVID-19 Cases Persist for a Month"
"Foreigners' Testing Should Not Be Misunderstood as Human Rights Violation"
"Total Vaccine Recipients Reach 675,000"

Kwon Deok-cheol, 1st Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Minister of Health and Welfare) [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The government reiterated its call for cooperation in quarantine measures, stating that the impact of the third wave of COVID-19 continues.

Kwon Deok-cheol, First Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Minister of Health and Welfare), diagnosed during the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on the 20th, "The tail of the third wave has not been cut off, and about 400 confirmed cases per day have continued for a month." The number of new confirmed cases surged to the 600s immediately after the Lunar New Year holiday (February 11?14), but then dropped to the 400s on February 20 (448 cases) and has been fluctuating between 300 and 400 daily since. In recent days, the number of confirmed cases has been in the mid-400s. Regarding recent infection patterns, Kwon explained, "Cluster infections are occurring nationwide in multi-use facilities such as bathhouses, indoor sports facilities, hospitals and clinics, pubs, entertainment establishments, and workplaces employing foreign workers."

He explained, "Infections continue in a chain-like manner through close contact among schools, daycare centers, coworkers, family, and acquaintances," and said that proactive testing is being conducted at high-risk facilities. Especially concerning the full-scale testing of foreign workers, he emphasized, "This is to block the spread of COVID-19 ahead of the general public vaccination scheduled to begin in April."

Seoul City issued an administrative order on the 17th to mandate COVID-19 diagnostic testing for foreign workers, but eventually withdrew the order amid concerns over discrimination against foreigners and human rights violations. Kwon seemed aware of this controversy, explaining, "It is believed to have arisen from misunderstandings that full-scale testing targets only foreigners, not both domestic and foreign workers, at high-risk workplaces."

He said, "Through consultations with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and local governments, we have requested clarification or improvement of the testing method to apply commonly to both domestic and foreign workers at high-risk workplaces." He added, "Measures to facilitate testing or convenience for foreigners should not be misunderstood as discrimination or human rights violations," and "We will be more meticulous to prevent such controversies during the quarantine process."

Kwon emphasized the need to stabilize the current COVID-19 situation ahead of the second quarter vaccination. He said, "As time passes with COVID-19, many, including medical staff, are becoming exhausted, but we must not be complacent here," and "We must definitely prevent the fourth wave and achieve herd immunity through smooth vaccination." He also reported, "Among about 800,000 vaccination targets in February and March this year, 675,000 people, or 84%, have smoothly completed vaccination."

At the meeting, special quarantine measures for the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions, where the first wave occurred in February and March last year, were discussed. Kwon urged, "As the fight against COVID-19 prolongs, we must regain vigilance and renew our resolve. Those planning to go out over the weekend should avoid crowded places as much as possible," calling for compliance with quarantine rules.

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