Amid Consecutive Breakthrough Infections Among Police Officers, "Prevent Security Gaps"... Police Strengthen Quarantine Measures

Rapid Surge in COVID-19 Cases, Police Officers Also Exposed
Completed Second Dose but Concern Over 'Breakthrough Infections'
Strengthening Social Distancing Measures... Encouraging Additional Vaccinations
"Stable Public Safety Is Key to Safe Return to Normal Life"

Kim Chang-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency (second from the right), is inspecting compliance with quarantine rules in an entertainment district in Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do on the 9th.
[Photo by National Police Agency]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] Concerns are growing over security gaps as police officers on the front lines of public safety continue to test positive for COVID-19. Since the phased return to normal life (With COVID) was implemented last month, the country has entered the '5th wave' with daily confirmed cases exceeding 7,000, prompting each provincial police agency to strengthen their own quarantine measures.

According to the police on the 12th, COVID-19 cases continue to occur across police stations nationwide. After Officer A at the Chungnam Provincial Police Agency tested positive on the 9th, four additional contacts were confirmed positive. A screening clinic has been set up at the Chungnam agency, and COVID-19 diagnostic tests are being conducted for all staff.

Earlier this month, 12 COVID-19 cases were reported at the 8th Riot Police Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency located in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. All confirmed cases had completed vaccination, and except for the initial case, the others were asymptomatic. Additionally, nine officers from a district police station under the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency Highway Patrol also tested positive.

In response, separate from the With COVID policy, each provincial police agency has strengthened quarantine rules. The Gyeonggi Nambu agency has instructed staff to adhere to enhanced measures equivalent to 'Level 4 social distancing' until the end of this month. They urged minimizing private gatherings such as dinners, and visits to weddings and funerals, avoiding visits to '3Cs' (closed spaces, crowded places, close-contact settings) like department stores and shopping malls, and refraining from visiting other departments or offices except for essential duties. Additionally, a plan for proactive diagnostic testing twice a week per department was proposed.

The reason breakthrough infections are occurring among police officers appears to be the considerable time elapsed since completing vaccination. Classified as essential social vaccination personnel, police officers began receiving the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine in April this year and completed their second doses around July to August. However, the vaccine’s preventive effect likely declined after 3 to 4 months post-vaccination. While the police have not yet tracked booster shot vaccination rates separately from the first and second doses, they plan to actively encourage additional vaccinations for officers in the field.

Commissioner Kim Chang-ryong of the National Police Agency has encouraged strengthening quarantine measures at frontline police stations. On the 9th, Commissioner Kim visited Bucheon Wonmi Police Station in Gyeonggi Province, inspecting entertainment districts around Sinjung-dong Station on Subway Line 7 with district police officers and enforcement teams. He requested efforts to ensure quarantine rules are followed on-site through cooperation with local governments and related agencies. He also reviewed the self-quarantine management status of departments with direct public contact, such as police station civil affairs offices.

Commissioner Kim stated, "The premise of a safe return to normal life is stable public security," urging thorough quarantine management at each police station and extraordinary personal commitment and effort to prevent security gaps caused by police infections. The National Police Agency plans to conduct on-site quarantine inspections by the end of this month under the 'Field Quarantine Inspection Plan' to identify and address vulnerabilities in quarantine measures.

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