COVID-19 Cases Expected to Hit Record High Again Today... Will Social Distancing Be Extended?

22,345 Confirmed Cases as of 9 PM the Previous Day

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to break records daily due to the spread of the Omicron variant, the government is set to announce adjustments to social distancing measures. Given the sharp increase in cases, there is a strong likelihood that the current social distancing rules will be extended.

According to the government on the 4th, after a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) this morning, a new social distancing adjustment plan to be applied from the 7th will be announced.

The current distancing measures, which began on the 17th of last month and will be in effect until the 6th, limit private gatherings to a maximum of six people and restrict operating hours of multi-use facilities such as restaurants and cafes to 9 p.m.

The government views the stable operation of the medical response system positively, but is concerned about the rapid increase in cases as the Omicron variant becomes the dominant strain.

The number of new confirmed cases reached a record high of 22,907 as of midnight the previous day. Considering that 22,345 cases were reported by 9 p.m. the previous day, the new case count announced today is also expected to set a new record. However, as of 5 p.m. on the 2nd, the nationwide COVID-19 severe bed occupancy rate stood at 16.1%, and the number of critically ill patients has recently remained in the 200s.

With testing numbers increasing again after a lull during the Lunar New Year holiday, concerns are rising that the scale of confirmed cases will surge. Therefore, the distancing adjustment plan to be announced today is widely expected to either extend the existing measures or slightly ease some restrictions through minor adjustments. However, the possibility of strengthening social distancing beyond the current level appears low. Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s Central Accident Response Headquarters, stated last month, "It is best to manage the Omicron wave without further strengthening social distancing measures if possible."

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