Lee Jae-gap "COVID-19 Pandemic Could Return"

"The 7-Day Isolation Requirement for Confirmed Cases Should Be Maintained"

Professor Lee Jae-gap of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Hallym University Gangnam Sacred Heart Hospital expressed concern that the COVID-19 pandemic could return and pointed out that lifting the 7-day quarantine requirement for confirmed cases is a premature measure.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Woo-seok] Professor Lee Jae-gap of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Hallym University Gangnam Sacred Heart Hospital expressed concerns that the COVID-19 pandemic could surge again.

On the 15th, Professor Lee appeared on CBS Radio's 'Hanpan Seungbu' and said, "Although the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has been within 10,000 since last week and dropped to the 3,000 range on weekends, indicating a stable situation, I think it is difficult for the numbers to fall any further."

He added, "If we apply the example of the United States directly to our country, since the COVID-19 peak was in March, I expect the pandemic to start again around August, five months later," and forecasted, "There will likely be a significant surge in September and October."

Regarding the survey result that 95% of the entire population has antibodies, he explained, "This survey is based on data from about 500 people in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, so the sample size is not very large," and added, "About 94% of people either received the vaccine or were infected in some way."

On the direction of vaccination amid the eased COVID-19 situation, he recommended, "For high-risk groups and the elderly, vaccine effectiveness decreases after about four months, reducing the prevention effect against severe illness," and said, "There is talk that people aged 60 and over should receive vaccinations every 4 to 6 months."

Regarding additional vaccinations for groups other than vulnerable populations, he stated, "The government is considering this. If an updated vaccine is released, it is expected that the entire population will receive one more dose, after which the focus will shift to preventive vaccinations for high-risk groups."

On the government's decision to lift the 7-day isolation requirement for confirmed cases, he said, "It is appropriate to maintain the 7-day isolation requirement. Various simulations show that reducing it to 5 days or lifting the isolation requirement could significantly increase the number of confirmed cases, according to mathematical modeling data."

He emphasized, "In this uncertain situation where we do not know how the fall and winter pandemic situation will unfold, maintaining the 7-day isolation is appropriate, and many experts agree with this."

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