41.6% of the Population Received First Dose of Vaccine... 15.4% Fully Vaccinated (Comprehensive)

Temporary Screening Clinics Installed at Four Rest Areas Entering the Capital Area
Individual Contact Infection Rate Among Confirmed Cases at 52%, Highest Since August Last Year
Suspected Case Test Positivity Rate Surpasses 4% for the First Time
First Dose Vaccination Completion Rate Exceeds 41.6% as of the 9th

Jeon Hae-cheol, the 2nd Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety), is delivering opening remarks at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting for COVID-19 response held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 23rd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The government will set up temporary screening clinics at rest areas entering the Seoul metropolitan area during the vacation season.

At the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting held at the Sejong Government Complex on the 10th, Jeon Hae-cheol, the 2nd Vice Minister (Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety), said, "From this week until the end of August, temporary screening clinics will be installed at four rest areas entering the metropolitan area to detect confirmed cases early during vacation travel and prevent further spread."

He added, "We also ask local governments to thoroughly conduct on-site inspections of major tourist destinations, including beaches."

Vice Minister Jeon requested people to refrain from urban gatherings to block the spread of infection amid the ongoing 4th wave of COVID-19.

He emphasized, "Ahead of the Liberation Day holiday, various large and small gatherings have been reported in areas including Gwanghwamun and throughout Seoul, but most have been prohibited. If illegal gatherings violating quarantine rules are forcibly held, the government will respond strictly according to law and principles."

The number of new COVID-19 confirmed cases on the 9th is expected to be in the mid-1,500s. The daily average number of confirmed cases over the past week was 1,495, continuing an increasing trend for four consecutive weeks since the end of June. The nationwide infection reproduction number is 0.99, slightly down from 1.04 the previous week, but regions such as Gyeongbuk (1.32), Gyeongnam (1.12), and Chungcheong (1.05) show a high potential for infection spread.

Vice Minister Jeon said, "The positive rate of suspected case tests has entered the 4% range for the first time, and the proportion of infections through individual contact with confirmed cases accounts for about 52% of total infections, the highest since August last year."

Regarding the extension of the mRNA vaccine dosing interval to six weeks due to delays in the supply of Moderna vaccines expected this month, he said, "Although there are variables in the supply situation of some vaccines, we will ensure that the first dose is administered to 36 million people by September."

As of the 9th, 21.37 million people, or 41.6% of the population, have received their first vaccine dose. Those fully vaccinated account for 15.4%, or 7.89 million people. The pre-registration for vaccination of those aged 18 to 49, which started the day before, is proceeding smoothly without connection issues.

Vice Minister Jeon explained, "The 10-day pre-registration system for vaccination of 16 million people aged 18 to 49 began yesterday. The government has thoroughly prepared measures for stable reservation progress, including system expansion and diversification of authentication methods. The first day of reservations proceeded smoothly, and we will ensure that ongoing pre-registrations continue without inconvenience."

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