Strengthening Quarantine Measures Again...? President Moon to Chair Quarantine Inspection Meeting on the 29th

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] President Moon Jae-in will hold a special quarantine inspection meeting on the 29th to review the quarantine situation. This is the first time a special quarantine inspection meeting has been held since the 4th wave, drawing attention to whether the government will suspend the 'gradual recovery to daily life' and strengthen quarantine measures again in response to the recent sharp increase in critically ill patients and confirmed cases.

President Moon will preside over the 'COVID-19 Response Special Quarantine Inspection Meeting' at the Blue House on the 29th. This is the first special quarantine inspection meeting since the one held in the metropolitan area in July, marking a four-month interval and the first since the 4th wave.

The background for holding the meeting is the urgent need for prompt administration of booster vaccinations and expansion of hospital beds, as critically ill patients, mainly among the elderly, have significantly increased immediately after the gradual recovery to daily life.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on the 27th, as of midnight, the number of new COVID-19 confirmed cases was 4,068, the second highest ever recorded, and the number of critically ill patients reached 634, the highest ever. The number of deaths also reached a record high of 52.

In particular, the rapid surge in critically ill patients has led to a shortage of hospital beds, raising warnings about the risk of collapse of the medical system.

Accordingly, the meeting is expected to evaluate the implementation of the gradual recovery to daily life over the past four weeks, review additional vaccinations and the quarantine situation, and discuss countermeasures. A joint briefing by related ministries will be held after the meeting.

A key point to watch is whether to suspend the gradual recovery to daily life and re-strengthen social distancing measures. However, the government is cautious about 'strengthening social distancing.' Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum stated on the 26th, "It is not easy to go back to the previous stage before the gradual recovery to daily life." This appears to reflect concerns about public fatigue with social distancing measures and the impact on the livelihood economy.

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