"Ultimately K-Quarantine Failure" vs "Please Stop the Conflict" Record High Critical Cases... Even 'Corona Conflict'

COVID-19 Severe Cases Reach Over 1,000 for First Time... Hospital Beds Saturated
Moon "Apologize to the People for Having to Reinforce Quarantine Measures"
Park Suhyun "K-Quarantine Is the Work of the People and Medical Staff... Why Keep Calling It a Failure?"

On the 17th, when the morning temperature in Seoul dropped to minus 5 degrees Celsius, bringing a severe cold wave, citizens visiting the temporary screening clinic set up at Seoul Plaza in Jung-gu, Seoul, were waiting in the cold to get tested for COVID-19. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] "Isn't K-Quarantine ultimately a failure?", "Everyone is going through a tough time, I hope the conflicts stop."

As the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases continues to soar daily, criticism is rising that the government's response has ultimately failed. On the other hand, there are rebuttals that it is a global crisis due to the Omicron variant, not just in our country. Some voices suggest that we should first unite our strength to overcome the crisis.

On the first day of the strengthened social distancing measures on the 18th, more than 4,500 COVID-19 confirmed cases were reported nationwide as of 9 p.m. According to the quarantine authorities, from midnight to 9 p.m. that day, a total of 4,576 people tested positive for COVID-19 across 17 cities and provinces nationwide. New confirmed cases were 3,082 (67.4%) in the metropolitan area and 1,494 (32.6%) in non-metropolitan areas.

In this situation, the number of critically ill COVID-19 patients exceeded 1,000 for the first time in history. The ICU bed occupancy rate surpassed 80%. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 19th, as of midnight on the 18th, the number of critically ill patients currently hospitalized was counted at 1,016.

This is the first time since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Korea that the number of critically ill patients has exceeded 1,000. It is 27 more than the previous record of 989 on the 16th. The number of critically ill patients has been in the 900s for four consecutive days since the 14th.

Given this situation, criticism has emerged among citizens that the COVID-19 quarantine system, 'K-Quarantine,' ultimately has problems. Kim, a company employee in his 30s, pointed out, "Wasn't the implementation of With-Corona too rushed?" and added, "Too many confirmed cases have come out." He continued, "They say more confirmed cases may come in the future, which is really serious."

Another office worker in his 40s, Park, said, "I think the government responded well on its own, but still, it's disappointing that there are so many confirmed cases." He added, "It seems like a failure of quarantine in reality."

On the 17th, when the government announced strengthened social distancing measures until the end of the year due to the rapid increase in COVID-19 confirmed cases, Myeongdong in Jung-gu, Seoul, appeared quiet. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

On the other hand, there is an opinion that it is problematic to single out only our country's quarantine system amid a global crisis where Omicron variant infection cases are emerging.

Currently, in the UK, according to local foreign media, the number of Omicron variant infection cases is approaching 25,000. The UK health authorities announced that as of 6 p.m. on the 17th, the confirmed Omicron variant infection cases totaled 24,968. This is an increase of about 10,000 cases compared to 24 hours earlier. Also, among Omicron-infected patients, deaths increased from 1 on the 14th to 7 on the 16th. Hospitalized patients also increased from 65 to 85.

Choi, a university student in his 20s, said, "Isn't it a serious level not only in our country but also in other countries?" and added, "Before judging success or failure in front of COVID-19, I think it is right to do our best to quarantine and cooperate." He also said, "I hope the political circles focus on quarantine first."

Amid conflicts among citizens over K-Quarantine, the Blue House and the government bowed their heads. President Moon Jae-in said on the 16th regarding the decision to suspend the phased daily recovery, "We failed to suppress the increase in critically ill patients, and preparations such as securing hospital beds were insufficient," and "I am sorry to the people for having to strengthen quarantine measures again."

Also, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum appealed on his Facebook on the 18th, "Criticism of government policy is necessary, but more importantly, the political circles and media should comfort and embrace our people," and "There is no progressive or conservative in front of the COVID crisis."

On the 16th, when 7,622 new COVID-19 cases were recorded, citizens lined up in a long queue to get tested at a temporary COVID-19 screening site set up at Peace Plaza in Sangam World Cup Park, Mapo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Regarding the criticism of quarantine failure, there are also opinions to join forces and solve the problem together. Park Soo-hyun, Blue House Senior Secretary for Public Communication, appeared on CPBC's 'Lee Ki-sang's News Sympathy' on the afternoon of the 17th and said, "K-Quarantine is what the people and medical staff have done," and asked, "Then it should be a success, so why do people keep saying it's a failure?" He also said, "Does saying the government failed in quarantine mean the dedication of the people and the sacrifice of medical staff failed?"

Park added, "Failure has a conclusive meaning, but we are now in the process of reorganizing and striving to move toward a more complete daily recovery, not ending," and "In this national crisis, everyone is making their utmost dedicated efforts in their positions. Kim Moran, the quarantine planning officer, is the same."

Regarding opposition party attacks, Park said, "It is not an attitude for the people to say 'Finally, it's a failure' as if they were waiting for this situation," and "When there is such a difficult national disaster, I wonder if there should be a ruling and opposition party, or conservatives and progressives. We should unite to overcome the national crisis and raise issues and criticize the government's mistakes."

Meanwhile, the quarantine authorities stated that it is difficult to predict whether the COVID-19 variants Omicron and Delta will simultaneously spread this winter or whether Omicron will eventually become the dominant strain.

Park Young-jun, head of the epidemiological investigation team at the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said at a briefing on the 17th, "Monitoring is needed for the possibility of simultaneous spread of Delta and Omicron," and "Whether Omicron will completely replace Delta or spread simultaneously is still in the early stage of Omicron spread, and overseas analysis is ongoing." He added, "Especially domestically, the share of Omicron is not high, so prediction is not easy."

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