President Moon: "Difficult to judge appropriate distancing... Will adjust flexibly"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] President Moon Jae-in recently stated that the number of COVID-19 cases exceeding 100,000 due to the Omicron variant is within the expected range, and that social distancing measures will be adjusted according to changes in the situation going forward.

On the afternoon of the 21st, President Moon presided over a senior secretaries meeting at the Blue House and said, "Our government's current Omicron response system focuses on managing severe and critical cases while maintaining the capacity of the medical response system."

President Moon said, "Although the recent number of confirmed cases has exceeded 100,000, it is within the initially expected range, and the situation is not worse than we had feared," adding, "Rather, the number of severe and critical patients, which the government is focusing on, is still being stably managed at less than half the level predicted by quarantine authorities and experts."

He continued, "The recent adjustment of social distancing by the government was possible because, despite the rapid increase in confirmed cases, severe and critical cases, fatality rates, and medical response capacity were managed stably," and added, "We will flexibly adjust social distancing measures at any time according to changes in the situation, focusing on managing severe and critical cases and medical response capacity."

President Moon noted, "In the prolonged COVID-19 situation, it is very difficult to determine the appropriate level of social distancing," and mentioned, "Quarantine experts are concerned that Omicron has not yet peaked, while small business owners and self-employed individuals are greatly dissatisfied with the slight extension of business hours."

This statement is interpreted as being mindful of the recent controversy over social distancing adjustments. Earlier, Professor Lee Jae-gap of Hallym University College of Medicine, who was an advisory member of the Committee for Supporting Daily Recovery, resigned on the 17th in protest against the government's easing of social distancing measures.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Moon emphasized, "While the government fully understands the difficulties faced by small business owners and the self-employed, please understand that this decision was made after careful consideration amid the increase in confirmed cases."

Regarding home treatment and criticisms of 'neglect at home,' he reassured, "We will do our best to alleviate concerns about neglect by providing guidance, counseling, and sufficient information even for the general management group, which constitutes the majority of home-treated confirmed cases."

President Moon expressed concern, saying, "With the start of the new school term approaching, the sharp increase in confirmed cases among children and adolescents is worrisome," and emphasized, "The education authorities and quarantine authorities will do their best to address the difficulties faced by frontline educational sites and ensure that school quarantine measures proceed without disruption."

He also actively encouraged the fourth dose of vaccination starting from that day, saying, "For those unvaccinated who are worried about side effects, please actively utilize the Novavax vaccine."

Regarding concerns about the supply of diagnostic kits, he emphasized, "The situation is calming down early," and added, "We are securing as much public supply as possible and gradually increasing free distribution."

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