Capital Region Already in 'Level 3' Under New Social Distancing Guidelines... "Cases Will Keep Rising If Gatherings Don't Decrease"

"Increase in COVID-19 Cases Among Young Adults in Their 20s Leading the Outbreak"

Regardless of the postponement of the new social distancing measures in the metropolitan area, on the 1st, an incentive system allowing vaccinated individuals to remove masks outdoors was implemented. Citizens near Jongno 3-ga, Seoul, are wearing masks. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] As the spread of COVID-19 intensifies again, mainly among people in their 20s and 30s, the metropolitan area is seeing over 600 new confirmed cases daily. The government, which had previously decided to postpone the application of the new social distancing system in the metropolitan area by one week, plans to decide whether to implement the new system after observing the epidemic situation this week.

On the 2nd, Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, stated at the COVID-19 briefing, "The proportion of patients aged 60 and over continues to decrease, but the increase in confirmed cases among young and middle-aged adults, led by those in their 20s, is currently driving the epidemic," adding, "There are not many severe cases, so the medical response system still has capacity."

Originally, the government planned to implement the new social distancing system nationwide from the 1st, focusing on easing quarantine measures. However, due to the rapid increase in confirmed cases in the metropolitan area, the application of the new system was urgently postponed by one week only for the metropolitan area, just eight hours before its scheduled implementation.

The spread continues unabated. As of midnight on the day, there were 826 new confirmed COVID-19 cases nationwide. This is the highest number in 176 days since January 7, when the third wave began to subside. Notably, 617 cases, accounting for 80% of the total, were concentrated in the metropolitan area. The metropolitan area recorded a weekly daily average of 509 confirmed cases, reaching the level of stage 3 (weekly daily average of 500) under the new social distancing system.

Accordingly, there are expectations that it will be difficult to introduce the new social distancing system even after the one-week postponement period in the metropolitan area ends on the 8th. There is also a growing possibility that the government may push ahead with the new system but immediately raise it to stage 3 from the start.

Son said, "We plan to consult with local governments in the metropolitan area this week to decide how to apply the (social distancing system) going forward." He added, "It is true that the current system and the revised plan's stage 3 are similar in terms of quarantine measures. However, the revised plan's stage 3 does not allow exceptions for private gatherings of five or more people, such as family gatherings, and rather lifts the ban on gatherings at entertainment facilities."

Currently, the government is continuing discussions on future quarantine responses centered around the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meetings. The three local governments of Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon, along with the central government, hold practical meetings once daily to discuss the situation.

Son emphasized, "If social activities do not decrease, the increase in confirmed cases will inevitably continue," and urged, "In the metropolitan area, please postpone or cancel gatherings in indoor enclosed spaces as much as possible and participate in quarantine efforts to block the spread of the epidemic."

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