Rapid Increase in COVID-19 Cases and Delta Variant Spread... Metropolitan Area's New Social Distancing Measures Finally Delayed by 1 Week (Comprehensive Report 2)

Three Metropolitan Areas to Maintain Ban on Private Gatherings of Five or More for One Week Starting Tomorrow
Continued Restriction on Operating Hours of Multi-Use Facilities Until 10 PM

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] The introduction of a new social distancing system in the Seoul metropolitan area has been postponed by one week, just eight hours before its implementation. Due to the rapid spread of COVID-19 centered in the metropolitan area and the spread of the Delta variant virus, the easing of quarantine measures has been delayed to observe the situation a little longer.

As a result of this decision, the allowance of private gatherings of up to six people, which was scheduled to start tomorrow (July 1), will be implemented one week later, and the current ban on private gatherings of five or more people will remain in effect. The operating hours restriction for multi-use facilities, which was to be extended until midnight, will continue to be limited to 10 PM.

On the 30th, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters stated, "In today's discussion, it was decided to apply the new distancing system given the serious situation in the metropolitan area, and to raise the metropolitan area to level 3 if the stage criteria are exceeded, with local governments taking measures to strengthen quarantine as much as possible during the implementation period." However, "after gathering opinions through district meetings in Seoul, recognizing the seriousness of the situation, it was decided to postpone the application of the distancing system for one week, and this information was communicated," they added.

Following Seoul's decision, Gyeonggi Province, Incheon City, and others shared the situation and agreed to postpone the restructuring of social distancing across the metropolitan area for one week.

The Central Disaster Headquarters emphasized, "We respect the autonomous decisions of metropolitan local governments and agree to take a one-week grace period," adding, "We will do our utmost together with metropolitan local governments to stabilize the spread in the metropolitan area."

On the 30th, as the number of new COVID-19 cases approached 800 due to the spread from Hongdae clubs, citizens visiting the screening clinic set up at Mapo-gu Public Health Center in Seoul were waiting to get tested. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

368 New Cases in Seoul on the 30th... Highest Since the Start of the Year

With the new distancing system scheduled to be implemented from July excluding the metropolitan area, only non-metropolitan regions will participate, making a 'half-hearted distancing reform' inevitable for at least one week. At the regular briefing earlier that morning, the Central Disaster Headquarters repeatedly emphasized that "the new distancing system will be implemented as scheduled from July 1." Despite expert warnings that rapidly easing quarantine measures when less than 10% of the total population has completed vaccination is risky, the government did not waver in its determination to proceed.

However, as the infection situation in the metropolitan area showed signs of concern and three provinces requested a postponement, the direction was abruptly reversed with about eight hours left before the reform.

According to the Central Disaster Headquarters, as of midnight that day, the number of new domestic COVID-19 cases reached 794. This is the highest number since April 23, when the fourth wave was considered to be beginning. It is the first time in about 20 days since early this month that new cases have reached the 700s. The daily case trend, which had been in the 300s early in the week and 600s mid-to-late week due to the weekend effect, has sharply risen to the 500s early in the week and high 700s midweek.

In particular, the recent spread is being led by the metropolitan area. Seoul reported 368 new cases that day, the highest since the start of the year. The average daily number of cases over the past week was 252.1, far exceeding the level 3 threshold of 195 cases in the new distancing system.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Delta Variant Confirmed in 9 Cases from Native English Instructor Cluster Infection

Additionally, the threat of the more transmissible India-origin Delta variant has intensified concerns. Among the cluster infections related to a restaurant in Mapo-gu, Seoul, and six English academies in the metropolitan area, which have surpassed 200 cumulative cases recently, nine cases of Delta variant infection have been confirmed.

Park Young-jun, head of the epidemiological investigation team at the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH), said at the COVID-19 briefing, "The Delta variant virus was confirmed in the cluster infection related to English academies in Gyeonggi Province," adding, "There is an epidemiological link to pubs in Mapo-gu, so the Delta variant is believed to have an influence." The cumulative number of confirmed cases related to this cluster infection has reached 213 so far.

On the previous day, the Central Disaster Headquarters and Seoul City sent text messages advising visitors to eight restaurants around Hongdae in Mapo-gu (La Bamba, Zen Bar, Dokkaebi Club, FF Club, Awesome, Seoul Pub, Corner Pub, Macondova) from July 16 to 28 to get tested for COVID-19.

Since the Delta variant infection has been confirmed in this cluster, authorities plan to manage epidemiologically related cases as if they were Delta variant cases. Park said, "Currently, variant viruses are randomly sampled and analyzed for mutation status. If a variant is confirmed, epidemiologically related cases are classified and managed the same way. Some cases requiring re-verification will undergo separate variant testing, but not all cases in this cluster will be tested for variants."

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