Social Distancing Maintained Until the 16th... "Must Clarify 'Criteria' That Will Serve as Basis for Decision in 2 Weeks"

"No 'Promise or Criteria' on Which Indicator Must Appear to Ease"

The government announced a two-week extension of the current social distancing measures, which limit private gatherings to four people and restrict restaurant and cafe operating hours until 9 PM. On the 2nd, a social distancing notice was posted at a restaurant in Seoul./Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] As the strengthened 'social distancing' measures are extended, there are calls for health authorities to provide guidelines on which indicators will be used to decide whether to ease restrictions as the end date approaches again in two weeks.

It is argued that 'predictability' related to daily life and economic activities should be increased for citizens and self-employed individuals who are expressing fatigue with social distancing.

Despite Decrease in New Cases... Severe Cases and Death Indicators Not Improving

According to health authorities on the 3rd, the current social distancing measures will be extended for two weeks from today until the 16th. Accordingly, private gatherings are limited to up to four people, and operating hours for restaurants and cafes remain restricted until 9 PM. From the 10th, the vaccination certificate and negative test confirmation system (vaccine pass) will also be applied to large stores such as department stores and large supermarkets with an area of 3,000㎡ or more.

This measure is due to the fact that, despite the recent downward trend in new COVID-19 cases, indicators related to severe cases and deaths have not improved. According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, 3,129 new COVID-19 cases were reported as of today. This is the first time in five weeks that the number has dropped to the 3,000 range on a Monday report. However, the number of severe cases remains at 1,015, maintaining the 1,000 range for 14 consecutive days. There were 36 deaths, bringing the cumulative death toll to 5,730 (cumulative fatality rate 0.89%). The number of Omicron variant infections increased by 111, totaling 1,318 cases.

With oral antiviral treatments expected to be introduced for home use by mid-month, the government plans to slow the spread of the Omicron variant?which is 2 to 3 times more infectious than the Delta variant?as much as possible to secure the healthcare system’s capacity to respond.

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum is delivering opening remarks at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting on COVID-19 held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 3rd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

"Conditions for Returning to With-Corona Must Be Established"

The problem is that no specific criteria have been presented on how to decide whether to extend social distancing measures after two weeks. The Lunar New Year holiday (January 29 to February 2) begins at the end of January, making the impact of any further extension on citizens’ daily lives even greater.

Previously, health authorities restructured social distancing from five levels to four in July last year and announced that the level would be raised to level 4 if new cases nationwide exceeded 2,000 or 1,000 in the metropolitan area. However, this system was effectively discarded when the phased daily recovery (With Corona) began in November. Due to a surge in cases in December, the current strengthened social distancing system was introduced and has been in operation since then.

Professor Kim Yoon of Seoul National University College of Medicine said, "The government should present promises or criteria on how the quarantine system will be reorganized in two weeks, how many hospital beds and personnel will be increased, and at what number of confirmed cases social distancing will be eased and phased daily recovery resumed. Only then can self-employed people and small business owners make predictions related to manpower, customers, and rent."

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum urged at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting on the same day, "Health authorities should not be bound by existing practices and regulations but prepare quarantine strategies suited to the new situation," adding, "It is urgent to comprehensively reform epidemiological investigations, diagnostic testing, and treatment capabilities to enable faster and more agile responses."

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