Transition Team: "If Decline Continues, Social Distancing Will Be Eased"... Calls for Lifting Business Hour Restrictions (Comprehensive)

Ahn Cheol-soo "Preparation Needed for Increasing Deaths and Critical Patients"

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol is leaving the office of the 20th Presidential Transition Committee, set up at the Financial Supervisory Service Training Institute in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 29th to attend an external schedule. Photo by Transition Committee Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The Presidential Transition Committee has ordered the quarantine authorities to review measures to abolish business hour restrictions for COVID-19 prevention.

Shin Yong-hyun, spokesperson for the Transition Committee, held a briefing on the afternoon of the 30th at the Transition Committee office in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, stating, "If the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) judges that COVID-19 infections have entered a declining trend, it is appropriate to ease social distancing," adding, "We understand that they have ordered to consider even abolishing business hour restrictions, which are recognized as having little effect."

Spokesperson Shin added, "According to the COVID-19 Special Committee's analysis, 9 out of 11 institutions say the trend is declining," and "Better data is held by the CDSCH."

Earlier, Ahn Cheol-soo, chairman of the Transition Committee, also argued that if the decline in confirmed cases is clearly confirmed, restrictions should be eased step by step.

Chairman Ahn pointed out during a briefing on the activities of the COVID-19 Emergency Response Special Committee, "When Omicron was on the rise, weakening social distancing led to further spread," and "It is appropriate to ease social distancing to some extent when the peak is confirmed and the trend is downward."

He continued, "Although the situation is still somewhat unstable, many experts commonly expect a shift to a declining trend in March," and regarding the current 'private gatherings limited to 8 people and business hour restrictions until 11 p.m.,' he said, "We have requested the CDSCH to ease social distancing step by step once the decline in spread is clearly confirmed and are awaiting their response."

He added, "We expect that soon there will be confirmation of the decrease in confirmed cases and an announcement of social distancing easing measures."

Furthermore, Chairman Ahn said, "It is necessary not only to ease social distancing but also to prepare for an increase in deaths or critically ill patients," and mentioned that he also requested measures for this.

Ahn Cheol-soo, Chairman of the Presidential Transition Committee, holds a press conference on the morning of the 30th at the Transition Committee office in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Transition Committee Press Corps

To this end, the government has decided to conduct a COVID-19 antibody positivity rate survey targeting 10,000 general citizens.

Chairman Ahn stated, "In the Omicron era, testing has become more necessary than before," and "Therefore, the government has decided to conduct an antibody positivity rate survey on a scale of 10,000 people."

Regarding the background of the survey, he explained, "This is scientific data that is very helpful for disease control and quarantine management, so we insisted it was necessary," and "The government has accepted this."

The antibody positivity rate refers to the proportion of people who have been infected with COVID-19 and recovered, thus possessing antibodies. If the sample survey shows a rate higher than 24.6%, it can be interpreted that there are many confirmed cases not detected by the quarantine authorities.

The COVID-19 Emergency Special Committee plans to reflect such data in policy decisions such as the fourth dose of vaccination.

Meanwhile, Chairman Ahn said, "Regarding support for self-employed and small business owners affected, we requested the government to extend once more the temporary suspension of the disposable product ban, which was set to expire on April 1," adding, "The Ministry of Environment is also moving toward a direction of suspension rather than a complete ban and is reviewing this positively."

Additionally, Chairman Ahn pointed out a blind spot in estimating the economic losses caused by COVID-19, saying, "The budget necessary for quarantine has been omitted so far, but it is necessary to properly estimate and transparently communicate this to gain public understanding."

He said, "The omitted part in the budget estimate is more than expected. We need to address this so that the overall estimated budget scale can be grasped," and announced plans to focus on this in the Special Committee's livelihood economy division.

Regarding the specific budget estimation method, he explained, "While estimating the compensation for losses or necessary finances, we also need to examine how to maintain fiscal soundness and what the proper mix is," adding, "There may be cash support, but on the other hand, there are also methods like loans and tax credits."

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