Three Consecutive Days of Over 200,000 New Cases... Starting Tomorrow, 'Gatherings Limited to 10 People, Until Midnight'

1,165 Severe Cases and 339 Deaths the Previous Day... Over 230,000 Confirmed Cases by 9 PM
Health Authorities: "If Decline is Clear, May Consider Lifting Outdoor Mask Mandate"

On the 1st, when the government announced the new social distancing adjustment plan allowing 'private gatherings of up to 10 people and business hours until midnight,' office workers were moving for lunch in Myeongdong, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] As the Omicron variant continues its gradual decline, from the 4th, the limit on private gatherings will be expanded from 8 to 10 people for two weeks, and business operating hours will be extended until midnight. The government plans to consider lifting all quarantine regulations except indoor mask-wearing if the COVID-19 outbreak clearly shifts to a downward trend over the next two weeks and severe cases and the healthcare system are stably managed.

According to Seoul City and other local governments on the 3rd, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases nationwide from 0:00 to 9:00 p.m. the previous day was 231,926 across 17 cities and provinces.

This is 27,306 fewer than the 259,232 cases recorded during the same time on the 1st. Compared to 310,049 cases recorded at the same time a week ago on the 26th of last month, it decreased by more than 70,000, and compared to 318,838 cases two weeks ago on the 19th of last month, it decreased by more than 80,000.

The daily new confirmed cases peaked at 620,000 on the 17th of last month, then dropped to the 490,000 range on the 23rd, 420,000 range on the 30th, and 320,000 range on the 31st. Since then, the number decreased to 280,199 on the 1st and 264,171 on the 2nd, showing a slowing increase. If the number of confirmed cases on the 3rd also falls into the 200,000 range, it will mark the first time since the 8th of last month that the daily confirmed cases have remained in the 200,000 range for three consecutive days.

The quarantine authorities interpret this trend in new confirmed cases as the Omicron wave having passed its peak and gradually declining since the end of last month. Accordingly, from the 4th, for two weeks, private gathering limits will be increased from 8 to 10 people, and business hours restrictions will be relaxed by extending closing time by one hour from 11 p.m., implementing eased social distancing measures.

In particular, if the outbreak clearly shifts to a downward trend and the healthcare system stabilizes over the two weeks, the government plans to boldly restructure quarantine measures. In this case, restrictions on business hours and private gatherings will be fully lifted, and mask-wearing outdoors may also be allowed to be removed.

However, the highly transmissible stealth Omicron (BA.2) has become the dominant strain, and the number of severe cases and deaths is likely to continue increasing until early to mid-month. As of 0:00 on the 2nd, there were 339 deaths due to COVID-19, with an average of 330 deaths per day over the past week. The number of severe cases was 1,165, down by 134 from the previous day (1,299), but has remained in the four-digit range for nearly a month since the 8th of last month (1,007).

Quarantine and medical experts emphasize the need to establish a more thorough and sufficient medical response system to minimize damage to high-risk groups such as severe patients, even if social distancing is eased.

Professor Jeong Gi-seok of the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital said, "Extending business hours by one hour and increasing the number of gathering participants by two will not have a significant impact on quarantine." He added, "However, it is important to observe the situation for two weeks until full lifting and to establish a medical system that can reduce critical patients and deaths." Professor Eom Jung-sik of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Gachon University Gil Medical Center advised, "Although the increase in confirmed cases has peaked, deaths due to COVID-19 may increase further in April and May. Since there is also a possibility of new variants other than stealth Omicron emerging domestically and internationally, a strong surveillance system must be maintained."

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