Kwon Deok-cheol: "Severe Situation in the Capital Area... Immediate Business Suspension for Violating Quarantine Rules"

The Weekly Increase of Delta Variant Patients Doubles Every Week

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] "More than 80% of the newly confirmed domestic cases are continuously occurring in the Seoul metropolitan area, which is a very serious situation,"

Kwon Deok-cheol, First Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Minister of Health and Welfare), stated in his opening remarks at the COVID-19 response Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting held on the 6th at the Seoul Situation Center in the Central Disaster and Safety Situation Room of the Government Seoul Office Building, "Since the number of new confirmed cases exceeded 700 on the 30th of last month, the spread of COVID-19 has not been curbed for a week."

Deputy Head Kwon expressed concern, saying, "As of midnight today, the number of new confirmed cases is expected to exceed 700," and "The weekly infection reproduction number is 1.25, which is higher than the national average of 1.20."

In particular, small-scale contact infections such as family, acquaintances, and workplaces have exceeded 50%, leading to the spread of everyday infections. Deputy Head Kwon said, "Confirmed cases are increasing mainly among young and middle-aged adults preparing for third-quarter vaccinations," and "Variant viruses with infectivity 1.5 to 2.5 times higher are also spreading."

On the same day, prior to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting, the government urgently held a special quarantine inspection meeting chaired by the Prime Minister with the participation of local government heads from the Seoul metropolitan area. The government plans to conduct special quarantine inspections on high-risk facilities to prevent the spread of infections in the metropolitan area.

Deputy Head Kwon said, "Until now, warnings were issued for first violations according to enforcement rules, but from now on, we will strengthen measures so that business suspensions can be imposed immediately without warnings," and added, "We will expand diagnostic testing by installing mobile screening clinics focused on regions and industries with many confirmed cases in the metropolitan area, and reinforce epidemiological investigators to strengthen epidemiological investigations."

He emphasized, "Our Republic of Korea is at a critical crossroads in quarantine," and "The new social distancing system can only function when the public actively and voluntarily participates to reduce the risk of COVID-19."

Deputy Head Kwon expressed concern, saying, "The Delta variant is known to be more than twice as infectious as the existing virus," and "Due to this high infectivity, the number of domestic Delta variant patients increased by about 30 two weeks ago, about 70 one week ago, and about 150 this week, with the increase doubling every week."

He continued, "In the current situation where the second vaccination rate is in the low 10% range, the most important defense to protect all of our safety is the mask," and requested, "For the time being, please be sure to wear masks both indoors and outdoors."

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