COVID-19 Spread... Government Says "Difficult to Predict Situation"

Disaster and Safety Management Headquarters Holds Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters Meeting

Kim Seong-ho, the 2nd Chief Coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Director of the Disaster and Safety Management Headquarters, Ministry of the Interior and Safety), is delivering opening remarks while presiding over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting for COVID-19 response held on the morning of the 21st at the Central Disaster and Safety Situation Room in Government Sejong 2 Complex, Sejong City.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] The government emphasized the need to closely monitor the quarantine situation, stating that it is difficult to predict the circumstances related to the COVID-19 resurgence.

Kim Seong-ho, Director of the Disaster and Safety Management Headquarters at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (2nd Chief Coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters for COVID-19), stated at the Central Disaster and Safety Situation Room in Sejong City Government Sejong 2 Office Building during the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting on the 21st, "It is difficult to predict the progression pattern of this resurgence."

He explained, "The infection reproduction number has been above 1 for nine consecutive weeks, and the spread continues this week as well," adding, "The number of critically ill patients currently hospitalized has been in the 500s for four consecutive days."

Director Kim emphasized, "Due to the decrease in immune effectiveness, reinfection rates are steadily increasing," and "The detection rate of the BN.1 variant has also exceeded 20%, so it is necessary to closely monitor the quarantine situation."

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters further reported that, as a result of the intensive winter vaccination over the past month, the vaccination rate for infection-vulnerable facilities reached 47.5%, and the vaccination rate for the elderly aged 60 and above was 28.3%, both increased compared to last month. However, these figures still fall short of the government’s target rates of 60% for infection-vulnerable facilities and 50% for the elderly.

Meanwhile, regarding the indoor mask-wearing mandate, an adjustment plan is scheduled to be announced on the 23rd.

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