Health Authorities "Considering Managing COVID Like Flu Once Medical System Stabilizes"

Social Distancing Extended for 2 Weeks Until the 20th
Gradual Easing of Measures Considering Fatality Rate, Severe Cases, and Medical Preparedness

[Source=Ministry of Health and Welfare]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] The government announced that if the severity and fatality rates of COVID-19 remain stable, it will consider resuming the restoration of daily life and managing confirmed cases like seasonal flu patients.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) explained this policy while announcing on the 4th an adjustment plan to extend the current social distancing measures?limiting private gatherings to 6 people and restricting business hours of restaurants and cafes to 9 PM?for two more weeks.

At an online briefing that day, Lee Ki-il, the first controller of CDSCH, said, "Even if confirmed cases increase, if the severity and fatality rates remain stable and the healthcare system has sufficient capacity, we have decided to gradually lift quarantine regulations and attempt to restore daily life again."

Regarding this, CDSCH explained, "We will actively review the possibility of transitioning to a daily quarantine and healthcare system similar to seasonal flu by evaluating healthcare system capacity, final severity rate, and fatality rate."

This decision appears to have been made because the Omicron variant, which has become dominant in Korea, spreads more than twice as fast as the previous Delta variant, but its severity and fatality rates are estimated to be about one-third to one-fifth. In fact, the number of new confirmed cases that day reached a record high of 27,443, but the number of severe cases remained in the 200s at 257.

The government’s stance is to respond to the current wave with minimal additional social distancing measures. However, if a crisis such as healthcare system collapse or a sharp increase in deaths is anticipated, additional quarantine strengthening measures such as restrictions on private gatherings and business hours will be considered.

Accordingly, the current social distancing measures will be extended for two weeks until the 20th. This is because the peak of the wave has not yet arrived, and there is a high possibility that large-scale spread occurred due to population movement during the recent Lunar New Year holiday. The maximum number of people allowed in private gatherings nationwide is limited to 6. Also, restaurants, cafes, indoor sports facilities, karaoke rooms, bathhouses, and entertainment venues may operate until 9 PM, while academies, PC rooms, kids cafes, massage parlors, and party rooms may operate until 10 PM. The quarantine pass system will also be maintained, and unvaccinated individuals can only use restaurants and cafes alone, as before.

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