Government, "COVID-19 Resurgence Phase... A Time for Vigilance" (Update)

Jungdaebon Announces Next Week's Summer Resurgence Response Plan

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The government has officially declared a resurgence of COVID-19 and has initiated focused quarantine measures for infection-vulnerable facilities along with a nationwide inspection of hospital bed availability.

Lee Gi-il, the 1st Chief Coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Vice Minister of Health and Welfare), stated in his opening remarks at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting held at the government Seoul office on the 8th, "Warning signs of the COVID-19 resurgence are lighting up one by one," adding, "It is a time when we all need to be vigilant."

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, the average daily confirmed cases over the past week from the 3rd to the 8th reached 15,277, an 86.5% increase compared to the same period last week (June 26 to July 1), which recorded 8,193 cases. The infection reproduction number has been rising weekly and exceeded 1 last week, reaching 1.05.

Lee explained, "The detection rate of the BA.5 variant virus, which has immune evasion characteristics, is increasing, and multiple factors such as increased summer mobility, insufficient indoor ventilation due to air conditioner use, and decreased immunity are acting together, showing signs of a resurgence," adding, "This means that COVID-19 has shifted back into a phase of spread."

Accordingly, at today's meeting, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters will strengthen quarantine measures for key infection-vulnerable facilities such as correctional facilities and slaughterhouses, and conduct a focused inspection of the medical system, including the nationwide hospital bed situation.

Previously, during the spread of COVID-19, group infections occurred at Dongbu Detention Center in December 2020 and at a slaughterhouse in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province in March 2021. The government inspected a total of 54 correctional facilities last month and on the 5th of this month formed an expert-centered Infectious Disease Management Support Group to proactively identify issues in quarantine at correctional facilities and establish a system capable of scientific response.

Starting from 2 p.m. today, together with local governments nationwide, they will also focus on inspecting whether there is a shortage of hospital beds by region and the preparedness for confirmed cases requiring special treatment such as childbirth, dialysis, and pediatrics.

Specific countermeasures for the summer resurgence of COVID-19 will be announced next week.

Lee said, "The quarantine authorities are discussing resurgence response plans for quarantine and the medical system with experts," adding, "We will prepare and report detailed summer resurgence response plans to the public next week." He also emphasized, "The scale and height of the resurgence wave can vary depending on our efforts," and urged the public to protect their families, themselves, and neighbors through personal quarantine measures such as wearing indoor masks and regular ventilation with calm and orderly civic awareness.

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