Average Daily COVID-19 Cases in the 2000s One Week After With Corona Implementation...Anxious Return to Normal Life

Last Week's Average of 2,133 Confirmed Cases... Severe and Critical Patients Increase by 9.6%
Government: "Quarantine Situation Remains Challenging"

On the night of the 7th, the first weekend after the phased daily recovery (With Corona) began, citizens near Hongdae in Mapo-gu, Seoul, are watching a street performance. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] "Considering the self-employed, With Corona is appropriate, but it's still worrisome."

Since the phased return to daily life (With Corona) was implemented on the 1st, over 2,000 new confirmed cases have been reported daily on average during the first week, raising concerns among citizens. The nationwide surge in movement and gatherings after With Corona, combined with colder weather leading to increased indoor activities, is pointed out as a factor that could intensify the spread.

Especially as other countries that have implemented With Corona are already seeing new confirmed cases reach record highs and the increase is accelerating, these concerns are growing stronger. The government maintains that an increase in confirmed cases is inevitable once With Corona begins.

On the 8th, the government stated that while expectations for economic recovery are rising due to With Corona, the quarantine situation remains challenging.

Lee Seungwoo, the 2nd General Coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) and Director of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's Disaster and Safety Management Headquarters, said in opening remarks at the CDSCH meeting held at the Government Sejong Complex, "After the first weekend following the transition to phased daily recovery, expectations for economic recovery are rising as consumption and employment improve, especially in the service sector. However, the quarantine situation is still not easy."

According to the CDSCH, the average number of critically ill patients during the first week of With Corona implementation last week was 365, a 9.6% increase compared to the last week of October. The weekly average number of deaths was 18, with most of the deceased being aged 60 or older.

The average number of confirmed cases is also on the rise. Last week's average confirmed cases were 2,133, marking the highest since the fifth week of September (2,488), and returning to the 2,000 range after five weeks.

A parent is considering home care for their young child amid consecutive infection reports. Photo by a Mom Cafe in Jecheon, Chungbuk.

Given this situation, voices expressing anxiety about With Corona are emerging. Park, a worker in his 20s, said, "It might be good news for the self-employed, but personally, I am very worried. Since With Corona, there have been more company dinners and gatherings with acquaintances," adding, "It's almost the end of the year in a month, and I worry the spread will worsen then."

He continued, "Some people are taking off their masks because of With Corona. Recently, I went to the playground in front of my house for a walk and was surprised to see elderly people chatting in groups without masks," and said, "Even with With Corona, shouldn't personal quarantine rules be strictly followed?"

Expectant mothers and parents with young children are even more concerned. Through mom cafes and other channels, they express worries like, "It feels more dangerous now. There are more gatherings and more people in restaurants than before, so I even hesitate to eat out."

Meanwhile, the recent rise of the infection reproduction number above 1 is also problematic. The infection reproduction number indicates how many people one confirmed case can infect; generally, a value above 1 means 'epidemic spread,' and below 1 means 'epidemic suppression.' Recently, the infection reproduction number reached 1.2, the highest since mid-July (1.32). If the infection reproduction number continues to exceed 1, the number of new confirmed cases this week is likely to enter the 3,000 range.

On the morning of the 7th, the first weekend after the implementation of the phased daily recovery (With Corona), hikers visited Bukhansan National Park in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, and were climbing the mountain. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

In relation, Europe, which declared With Corona earlier than South Korea, is also experiencing a surge in confirmed cases. Recently, foreign media such as the British daily The Guardian reported that many European countries are setting new daily records for new confirmed cases.

In the Netherlands, which effectively lifted most COVID-19 restrictions from the end of September, the number of new hospital admissions due to COVID-19 symptoms from the 27th of last month to the 2nd of this month reached 834, a 31% increase compared to the previous week. Germany, which has been implementing With Corona since August, also recorded 33,949 new confirmed cases on the 3rd, the highest since the COVID-19 outbreak.

Given this situation, the World Health Organization (WHO) has forecasted that 500,000 COVID-19 deaths will occur in European countries by February next year.

Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, said at a press conference on the 4th (local time), "The transmission speed of COVID-19 is severe in 53 European countries," adding, "If the current trend of confirmed cases continues, an additional 500,000 deaths will occur by February next year."

Meanwhile, the government expects an increase in confirmed cases to be inevitable after With Corona. Son Youngrae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jongbae's Focus' and said, "As quarantine rules are relaxed and various gatherings and appointments increase, the overall epidemic scale can only continue to grow in this situation."

He added, "If vaccination is the primary safety net, masks serve as the almost final line of defense. Therefore, environments where masks are removed are inherently risky," pointing out, "There are many cases where masks are taken off while eating or drinking. Also, places where many people gather indoors and talk loudly are increasingly risky."

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