'7mal 8cho' Vacation Peak Season Approaches, Quarantine Eased... Could Trigger Resurgence

COVID-19 Vaccination for Under 40s to Accelerate After August... Delta Variant as a Variable

On the 20th, when the number of new COVID-19 cases remained in the 400s for the second consecutive day at 429, medical staff at a temporary screening clinic set up in Seoul Station Plaza are collecting samples from citizens. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] Starting next month, a new 'social distancing' policy will be implemented, expanding the allowable number of private gatherings and significantly easing restrictions on the operation of multi-use facilities. This move comes as the goal of vaccinating 14 million people against COVID-19 in the first half of the year has been achieved, and with the number of new confirmed cases on a downward trend, aiming to reduce damage to the everyday economy.

Some have expressed concerns that with the upcoming peak summer vacation season next month, a sudden relaxation of quarantine vigilance could become a trigger for a resurgence of COVID-19.

On the 21st, the Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight, 357 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed, bringing the total to 151,506. This is about 70 fewer than the previous day, dropping to the 300s for the first time in six days.

The average number of new cases over the past week is 461.8 per day. The daily average of locally transmitted cases fell below 500 to 493 on the 14th and has been on a decreasing trend since. However, considering that case numbers typically decrease on weekends and holidays, it is still too early to conclude that the spread has been curbed.

Experts acknowledge the need to apply the new social distancing measures but warn that premature easing could be detrimental to quarantine efforts. This is especially because population movement across the country is expected to be active ahead of the peak vacation period in late July and early August, increasing the likelihood of infection spread.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, the current 5-level distancing system will be simplified to 4 levels based on the severity of the outbreak, and the key indicator for adjusting levels will change to the 'weekly average number of domestic cases per 100,000 population.' If current case levels are maintained, it is expected that Level 2 will apply in the metropolitan area and Level 1 in non-metropolitan areas.

Accordingly, from next month, entertainment facilities in the metropolitan area will be allowed to resume operations, and operating hours for restaurants, cafes, karaoke rooms, and gyms will be extended by two hours from the current 10 PM to midnight. The allowable number of private gatherings will be up to 6 people for the first two weeks of July, expanding to 8 people thereafter. In non-metropolitan areas where Level 1 applies, gatherings and company dinners can be held without restrictions on the number of people.

Professor Cheon Eun-mi of the Respiratory Medicine Department at Ewha Mokdong Hospital said, "Most summer vacations occur in late July and early August, but this period is not yet the time for the general public to receive COVID-19 vaccinations." She added, "Vaccinations for people in their 50s will start from late July, and those under 40 will likely be vaccinated in August. If quarantine vigilance is suddenly relaxed next month, there is a risk of resurgence."

Professor Cheon emphasized, "The government should strongly recommend that only a small number of people who have completed vaccinations go on vacation this summer and that vacations be spread out into the fall and other times." She warned, "If asymptomatic infections among young people circulate, the damage could be enormous."

The globally spreading variant viruses are also a variable. Professor Cheon noted, "The Delta (India) variant, known to be about three times more transmissible than the original virus, is also a concern." She mentioned, "Although South Korea currently has only 155 confirmed Delta variant cases (as of the 15th), there is a possibility of very rapid spread in the future, so preparation measures are necessary."

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