"COVID-19 Resurgence Ahead of Vacation Season... Will Yoon Administration's 'Scientific Quarantine' Strategy Emerge?"

Daily Cases Exceed 20,000, Clear Signs of Resurgence
Rapid Increase in High Reinfection Risk 'BA.5' ... New Quarantine System Announced on 13th

On the 8th, 19,323 new COVID-19 cases were reported, marking a 2.03-fold increase compared to the previous week. Citizens visiting the screening clinic set up at Mapo-gu Public Health Center in Seoul are waiting to get tested. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The government has officially acknowledged the resurgence of COVID-19 and will prepare and announce specific response measures on the 13th. Attention is focused on whether the new administration, which has emphasized "scientific quarantine," will strengthen quarantine measures again, including maintaining the isolation obligation for confirmed cases, resuming social distancing, and expanding the fourth dose of vaccination.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of midnight on the 9th, the number of new COVID-19 confirmed cases increased by 20,286, surpassing 20,000 for the first time in a month and a half since May 25 (23,945 cases). Although the number of confirmed cases usually tends to decrease on weekends, on this day, despite being a weekend, the number of confirmed cases doubled compared to the previous week, continuing the "doubling phenomenon."

The number of new confirmed cases recorded 18,136 on the 5th, followed by 19,363 on the 6th, 18,505 on the 7th, 19,323 on the 8th, and 20,286 on the 9th. By 9 p.m. on the 9th, 19,842 people across 17 cities and provinces nationwide were confirmed positive for COVID-19, and the number of confirmed cases announced on the 10th is also expected to exceed 20,000.

Lee Ki-il, the 1st General Coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Vice Minister of Health and Welfare), emphasized at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on the morning of 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." The General Coordinator 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, lack of ventilation in indoor spaces due to air conditioner use, and decreased immunity effects are acting together, showing signs of resurgence," adding, "This means that COVID-19 has shifted back into a spreading phase."

Accordingly, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters has begun reviewing quarantine measures for major vulnerable facilities such as correctional facilities and slaughterhouses, as well as rechecking the nationwide hospital bed situation. Together with local governments nationwide, they are intensively inspecting whether there are any shortages of beds by region and the preparedness for confirmed cases requiring special treatment such as childbirth, dialysis, and pediatrics.

Specific response measures for the summer COVID-19 resurgence will be announced on the 13th. The quarantine authorities have stated that depending on the judgment of resurgence, they may strengthen quarantine measures such as social distancing and consider changes to medical response measures.

The "National Infectious Disease Crisis Response Advisory Committee," an expert body advising on infectious disease policy, will hold its first meeting on the 11th to predict the possibility and scale of resurgence, discuss whether to lift the isolation obligation for confirmed cases, and gather expert opinions on the fourth dose of vaccination.

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