COVID-19 'Severe and Critical Patients' Remain in the 500s for 10 Days... "Possible Additional Spread During Chuseok Holiday"

New COVID-19 Cases Lowest in 5 Weeks as of Friday... "Severe Cases and Deaths Expected to Rise Temporarily"
Temporary Testing Sites Nationwide Operate Normally During Chuseok Holiday... Emergency and Special Patient Transport Systems Maintained
17 Immigration and Foreign Affairs Regional Offices Conduct Quarantine Inspections

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The number of severe COVID-19 patients has remained in the 500s for the 10th consecutive day. While the government believes that the number of new confirmed cases has passed its peak and is on a downward trend, it expects the number of critically ill patients and deaths to continue increasing for the time being.

On the 2nd, Kim Seong-ho, the 2nd General Coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) and Director of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's Disaster and Safety Management Headquarters, stated in the CDSCH meeting opening remarks, "The overall quarantine situation is currently stable, but with the Chuseok holiday approaching in a week, there is a high possibility of further spread due to increased face-to-face contact and mobility." On that day, the number of new confirmed cases was about 89,000, which was higher than the previous day but marked the lowest Friday figure in five weeks.

In particular, although the number of new confirmed cases has turned downward, the sustained number of severe patients in the 500s is a major concern. Kim, the 2nd General Coordinator, said, "The number of critically ill patients and deaths is expected to maintain an increasing trend for the time being," adding, "The number of severe patients currently hospitalized has remained in the 500s for 10 consecutive days, and the number of deaths is 64."

Accordingly, under the 'Chuseok Holiday Quarantine and Medical Response Strategy,' the government plans to operate temporary screening clinics nationwide as usual and ensure essential operation of one-stop medical institutions by region and day of the week to provide patient care without medical gaps. Emergency contact networks and urgent transport systems will also be maintained to ensure golden time treatment for emergency and special patients.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Additionally, to prevent new spread, the government will actively promote compliance with quarantine rules through multilingual notices in areas densely populated by foreigners, major stations, and terminals. The 17 regional immigration and foreigner offices plan to conduct focused inspections on adherence to quarantine rules such as indoor mask-wearing.

With the participation in vaccination for the first domestically produced vaccine and the full lifting of the mandatory pre-entry PCR test, efforts to prevent COVID-19 spread onboard flights were also urged. Approximately 610,000 doses of the first domestically produced vaccine were officially shipped on the 30th of last month and are being delivered to local governments nationwide.

Kim, the 2nd General Coordinator, emphasized, "Since the vaccine's effectiveness and safety have been confirmed, those eligible for basic vaccination should participate with confidence," adding, "Nationals entering from abroad should actively cooperate with airline policies to prevent onboard COVID-19 spread and thoroughly comply with post-entry testing."

Meanwhile, ahead of the Chuseok holiday, the government plans to operate a 24-hour situation management system and conduct special inspections in areas such as transportation and fire safety. Kim, the 2nd General Coordinator, said, "To safely celebrate the Chuseok holiday without social distancing for the first time in three years, please keep visits to hometowns or travel destinations small and brief," and urged, "Please also strictly adhere to personal quarantine rules."

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