48% of Citizens Say "COVID-19 Risk Has Decreased"... 91% Say "Control of Confirmed Cases Must Be Maintained"

On the 11th, when 2,223 new COVID-19 cases were reported, marking the first time in 568 days since the outbreak that the number exceeded 2,000, citizens visiting the temporary screening clinic set up at Seoul Station Plaza are waiting to be tested. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] About half of the population perceives the risk level of COVID-19 to have decreased. However, more than 90% of respondents still believe that controlling the number of confirmed cases remains important, as the risk could rise again if the number of cases increases significantly.

According to the "COVID-19 and Social Health 3rd Survey" conducted by the Seoul National University Graduate School of Public Health's COVID-19 Planning Research Group through CaseStat Research from the 29th of last month to the 2nd of this month, surveying 1,000 adults nationwide aged 18 and older (sampling error 95%, confidence level ±3.1 percentage points), about 47.7% of respondents answered that "because the fatality rate of COVID-19 has decreased, the current number of confirmed cases in the 4th wave does not have the same meaning as the numbers in the previous 1st to 3rd waves."

However, an overwhelming majority of 90.6% agreed that "if the number of confirmed cases increases, the risk could rise due to virus evolution and an increase in severe patients, so controlling confirmed cases remains important."

Regarding the direction of transitioning the current quarantine system, 56.9%?a majority?responded that "from now on, with the fatality rate lowered, it is necessary to transition the quarantine system so that COVID-19 and daily life can coexist to some extent," which is referred to as "With Corona." However, 76.1% also responded that "considering the current domestic vaccination rate and the number of confirmed cases, it is premature to consider transitioning the quarantine system," and 79.9% expressed the opinion that "the current quarantine system should be maintained until the number of confirmed cases is reduced to near zero."

Regarding herd immunity, 60.7% of the public responded that completing COVID-19 vaccination will form "herd immunity" and allow a return to normal life. On the other hand, a similar proportion of 63.6% believe that herd immunity is impossible due to variants and that returning to pre-COVID-19 conditions is not feasible.

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