Prime Minister Kim: "Social Distancing to Be Revised from Next Month... Will Bring Major Changes to Daily Life"

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum is speaking at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting on COVID-19 response held at the Government Seoul Office Building on the 16th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Son Seon-hee] Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said regarding the new social distancing reform plan scheduled to be announced on the 20th, "This reform is expected to bring significant changes to quarantine measures and daily life, so we want to provide sufficient preparation time to all citizens."

On the morning of the same day, Prime Minister Kim chaired the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting at the Government Seoul Office and said, "Through the third quarter vaccination and the new social distancing reform, this will be an opportunity for us to take one step closer to restoring daily life." However, he warned, "We must not be complacent," adding, "Although over 60% of the population in the UK has completed the first dose, the rapid spread of variant viruses has delayed the lifting of lockdown measures by one month." He continued, "While nurturing hope for the restoration of daily life, we earnestly ask all citizens once again to maintain vigilance in quarantine and actively participate in vaccination and social distancing."

Regarding COVID-19 vaccines, the number of first-dose recipients surpassed 13 million as of the previous day. Prime Minister Kim expressed gratitude for the public's cooperation, stating, "South Korea is becoming safer," and reported, "Nearly 80% of seniors aged 70 and above have completed the first dose, resulting in a rapid decrease in confirmed cases among the elderly recently." He added, "We have visually confirmed that even the first dose can prevent infection," emphasizing, "I repeatedly urge everyone to continue participating in vaccination with firm trust in the vaccine's effectiveness."

Prime Minister Kim said, "As vaccination speeds up, expectations for the restoration of daily life are also growing," and noted, "Flights to overseas tourist destinations have resumed, and some overseas travel packages sold out immediately upon release. We understand the earnest desire of citizens to regain their daily lives."

He also stated, "Tomorrow, the government will report the third quarter vaccination plan to the public," adding, "Although there is uncertainty in vaccine supply amid the global pandemic situation, we will thoroughly prepare and implement measures so that the national wish for herd immunity achievement and daily life restoration can be realized as soon as possible."

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