Lee Jae-gap "Has Not Peaked... Government Should Send Message That 'Omicron' Is Dangerous"

"Currently, the Medical System Is Barely Holding On... We Must Not Increase Uncertainty"

Professor Lee Jae-gap of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital is presenting at a public discussion on phased daily recovery held on the afternoon of October 1 last year at El Tower Orche Hall in Yangjae-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] Professor Lee Jae-gap, an infectious disease specialist at Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, criticized the government’s consideration of easing social distancing measures such as 'private gatherings limited to 8 people, business hours until midnight,' saying, "We haven’t reached the peak yet, but the government keeps talking about things that don’t need to be addressed first."

On the afternoon of the 16th, Professor Lee appeared on CBS Radio’s 'Hanpan Seungbu' and said, "It would be good if they at least told the public to be cautious, but just yesterday they said, 'The mortality and fatality rates of Omicron have reached the level of the flu,' and today the Prime Minister said, 'We can downgrade a first-class infectious disease to at least second or fourth class,'" adding, "It seems like they are showing a determination to push through head-on."

Professor Lee pointed out that it is not right to promote easing quarantine measures when the peak of COVID-19 spread cannot be confirmed. He said, "No country predicted what the maximum would be. The U.S. already reached its peak and started to decline, going from 1 million cases down to 800,000, so they said the peak has passed. The U.K. went up to 200,000 cases, and after 1-2 weeks, it declined to 150,000 or 160,000, so they said the peak was over. Right now, the medical system is barely holding on, so I am worried."

Professor Lee also criticized the government for seemingly having already given up on social distancing policies. He said, "If you demand stricter social distancing because the medical system is collapsing, this administration will end, so they won’t do it, and I don’t think the incoming administration will strengthen social distancing while taking that blame," adding, "They should either maintain the current system or stop increasing uncertainty. Secondly, they need to clearly communicate that this is still a crisis, even now."

Furthermore, Professor Lee emphasized the need to prepare for pandemics after COVID-19. He said, "All the vulnerabilities we have had over the past two years have been revealed," and added, "We shouldn’t carry those vulnerabilities forward as they are; we must be prepared and face the next pandemic properly."

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