With Corona 'Stop'... South Korea Locked Down Again Under Curfew

'High-Intensity Social Distancing from Weekend' Detailed Measures Announced on 17th
Private Gatherings Reduced to 4 People, Multi-Use Facility Operations Likely Limited to 10 PM

7,850 Confirmed Cases, 964 Critically Ill Approaching... Deaths Exceed 70 for Second Consecutive Day
Prime Minister Kim: "Set December as Focus Period for Third Vaccination of Elderly"

On the 15th, when a record high of 7,850 new COVID-19 cases and 964 critically ill patients were reported, citizens visiting the screening clinic set up at Songpa-gu Public Health Center in Seoul were waiting to get tested. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy reporters Lee Chun-hee and Son Sun-hee] The "gradual return to daily life (With Corona)" has come to a halt after just over a month. As the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases nears a record high of 8,000 and critically ill patients approach 1,000, spiraling into an uncontrollable situation, the government has decided to reintroduce high-intensity social distancing measures as early as the 18th.

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum chaired a Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting at the Government Seoul Office on the morning of the 15th and stated, "We view the current quarantine situation very seriously and intend to implement stronger social distancing measures." This marks the decision to impose an "emergency pause" amid the rapid deterioration of quarantine indicators following With Corona.

Prime Minister Kim said, "We are reviewing measures that include further reductions in private gathering sizes and restrictions on business hours," adding, "We will finalize and announce these measures as soon as possible." The government is expected to announce detailed measures on the 17th after gathering opinions through emergency government-party consultations starting this afternoon.

The government is considering the immediate implementation of social distancing measures starting on the weekend of the 18th. Initially, these measures will be enforced for about two weeks until the 2nd of next month, with a reassessment based on the quarantine situation. Currently, private gathering limits of six people in the metropolitan area and eight in non-metropolitan areas are likely to be reduced back to four people, and operating hours for multi-use facilities, which had been lifted except for entertainment venues, are expected to be restricted to 9 or 10 p.m.

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum is delivering a speech at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on COVID-19 held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 15th. At the meeting, Prime Minister Kim stated, "We are reviewing measures that include further reductions in the size of private gatherings and restrictions on business hours, and we will finalize and announce them as soon as possible." Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

All quarantine indicators are worsening. According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of midnight today, there were 7,850 new confirmed COVID-19 cases. This is a record high, up by 676 cases from 7,174 the previous Wednesday. Among the cumulative 536,495 confirmed cases, 32.0% (171,803 cases) were confirmed within 45 days since the start of With Corona.

Contrary to the government's initial expectation that the healthcare system could withstand up to 10,000 cases after With Corona, medical response capacity is deteriorating daily. There are currently 964 critically ill patients hospitalized. The death toll reached 70 yesterday, marking over 70 deaths for two consecutive days for the first time, following 94 deaths the day before. Available hospital beds have also run out. As of 5 p.m. yesterday, the nationwide intensive care unit bed occupancy rate was 81.4%, with 1,056 of 1,298 beds occupied. In particular, the metropolitan area is using 86.4% (723 of 837 beds), and nearby regions such as Daejeon (100%) and Chungbuk (93.8%) have no available beds.

When With Corona was introduced, the government projected the severe case rate among confirmed patients to be around 1.5%, but it has now surged to about 2.5%, which is seen as a major cause. To prevent this, the government is focusing on administering third-dose vaccinations. Prime Minister Kim stated, "We are designating the remaining December as a period to focus on third-dose vaccinations for the elderly," and pledged active support for third-dose vaccinations, including allowing vaccinations at nearby medical institutions without prior reservations.

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