CDSCHQ "Infection Reproduction Number Above 1 for 2 Weeks... Signs of COVID Reemergence" (Update)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Byeon Seon-jin] The government urged adherence to quarantine rules such as vaccination, ventilation, and handwashing, stating that "the COVID-19 outbreak is showing signs of rebounding after a stagnation period."

Cho Gyu-hong, 1st Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) and Minister of Health and Welfare, said at the CDSCH meeting held at the Government Seoul Office on the 28th, "Today's confirmed COVID-19 cases are in the 35,000 range. The infection reproduction number is 1.09, remaining above 1 for two consecutive weeks." An infection reproduction number above 1 indicates 'outbreak expansion.' Deputy Head Cho also explained, "The severe case rate and fatality rate are also rising. Over five weeks, the severe case rate increased from 0.12% to 0.19%, and the fatality rate rose from 0.06% to 0.09%."

Deputy Head Cho also cautioned about the influenza outbreak. In the third week of October, the number of influenza-like illness (suspected cases) was 7.6 per 1,000 people, which is 4.7 times higher compared to the same period last year (1.6 per 1,000).

He said, "Please actively participate in COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations, and also strictly follow quarantine rules such as ventilation and handwashing."

From the previous day, the 27th, advance reservations began for three types of COVID-19 bivalent vaccines for all adults. Deputy Head Cho stated, "The bivalent vaccines have superior ability to neutralize variant viruses such as BA.1 and BA.5 compared to existing vaccines."

At the CDSCH meeting that day, measures to minimize indoor transmission of respiratory infectious diseases were discussed. The government announced that from September 29 to October 19, it surveyed ventilation facilities at four nursing hospitals in Gyeongbuk, investigating the frequency of ventilation and carbon dioxide concentration in patient rooms, and if found insufficient, improvement plans were to be prepared. Deputy Head Cho explained, "We conducted training for epidemiological investigators and others to develop the ability to evaluate ventilation performance, and we plan to develop and distribute ventilation guidelines and instructions for using ventilation facilities."

Deputy Head Cho concluded, "Ventilation is an effective means to prevent infection. Natural ventilation for 10 minutes reduces the risk of infection by 38%. In facilities with high infection risk such as sports facilities and cafes, please ventilate by opening windows at least three times a day for more than 10 minutes each time."

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