Health Authorities: "Difficult to Control Outbreak Due to Holiday Season and Delta Variant... Prevent 'Rapid Surge' with Social Distancing"

Published 19 Aug.2021 11:27(KST)

"Social Distancing and Quarantine Strategies Operating Simultaneously"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] On the 19th, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Korea reached 2,152, the second highest ever recorded. Despite the highest level 4 social distancing measures being applied in the metropolitan area for six consecutive weeks, the spread has not been contained, leading to criticism that the country's quarantine measures rely excessively on social distancing. In response, health authorities stated, "Unlike other countries overseas, we are suppressing a rapid increase through quarantine measures including social distancing."

Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, explained during a back briefing on the 19th that the reason the spread has not been contained despite strong quarantine measures is largely due to increased travel demand during the vacation season. He said, "Initially, cases increased in the metropolitan area, but with the vacation season, outbreaks expanded to non-metropolitan areas, and as people returned, cases in the metropolitan area increased again." He also explained, "The Delta variant has become completely dominant, combining with rapid spread, making it difficult to control the outbreak."

However, unlike other countries, domestic authorities analyze that the rapid increase is being suppressed. Son emphasized, "Three to four weeks ago, we were in a steep surge phase, but now, due to social distancing and various quarantine measures, the rapid increase trend is being curbed, which should be viewed differently."

He added, "Social distancing and quarantine strategies are being implemented in a complex manner. Currently, we are continuing strategies to quickly find and isolate confirmed cases through expanded diagnostic testing and reinforcement of epidemiological investigation personnel, and we are also operating strategies expecting blocking effects through vaccination."

As large-scale confirmed cases continue daily, the number of deaths is also rising. On the previous day alone, 13 additional deaths were reported. Regarding this, Son said, "During the peak phase of the third wave when daily confirmed cases were in the 1,000s, weekly deaths were 150 to 160, but now, although the number of patients has more than doubled, the number of deaths has decreased." He added, "The number of deaths increases subsequently when infections among the elderly, especially unvaccinated elderly, increase. We consider both reducing the total number of confirmed cases and blocking infections among the elderly as important and are responding accordingly."