Recognizing COVID-19 as a Cold?… KDCA Denies "Not an Official Position"

On the 7th, citizens visited the temporary COVID-19 screening clinic installed near the Express Bus Terminal in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

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[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] In response to the spread of posts online claiming that the quarantine authorities acknowledged COVID-19 as a common cold, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) refuted this by stating, "The severity of COVID-19 is higher than that of influenza," and that "this is not an official position."

Recently, posts have circulated on online communities claiming that the KDCA recognized COVID-19 as a cold through the 1339 call center. These posts reportedly included a recording of a 1339 call center counselor acknowledging COVID-19 as a cold.

However, the KDCA rebutted, saying it is difficult to consider COVID-19 simply as a cold. On the 13th, the KDCA released explanatory materials stating, "Although it is true that the severity of COVID-19 has decreased compared to when the first confirmed case occurred in 2020 due to high vaccination rates and the characteristics of the Omicron variant, it is still higher than influenza."

The KDCA further emphasized, "(COVID-19) has a higher transmission rate than influenza, leading to a rapid increase in confirmed cases," and added, "In a situation where an overall rise in severe patients is expected, quarantine measures such as social distancing, vaccination, and mask-wearing remain important means to minimize the disease burden."

The KDCA pointed out, "The disclosed content is a partial recording of a conversation between a 1339 call center counselor and a complainant," and noted, "It seems inappropriate to express some personal responses to complaints as if they were the official position of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency."

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