Experts call for strongest quarantine measures
m.koreatimes.co.kr
Korea reports record high daily caseload of 1,275
By Lee Hyo-jin
Medical experts called for the strongest possible antivirus distancing measures Thursday after Korea began to grapple with another wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the daily caseload for Wednesday hitting a new record high since the coronavirus outbreak was first reported here, they pointed out that this unprecedented situation is a result of the government's complacent response measures, and warned that the country may see a further increase in infections unless the toughest distancing rules are imposed.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 1,275 new cases for the day, including 1,227 local transmissions, raising the country's aggregate total of infections to 164,028.
This is the largest daily tally since the coronavirus hit the country Jan. 20 last year, and it is the first time the figure has stayed above 1,200 for two consecutive days.
KDCA Commissioner Jeong Eun-kyeong said if the current situation continues, the daily caseload could be 1,400 by the end of July, and if situation worsens, up to 2,140.
"The government's premature moves, such as the relaxation of distancing measures and proposal of incentives for vaccinated people, have given the wrong signals to the public that things will soon return to a pre-COVID-19 normalcy," said Kim Woo-joo, an infectious disease specialist at Korea University Guro Hospital.
He insisted that the health authorities admit their failure and immediately raise the social distancing to Level 4, the highest notch in the new distancing system. "Otherwise, it will be difficult to curb the current virus spread due to the Delta variant," he said.
Under Level 4, private gatherings of over three people are banned in the evening after 6 p.m. Eateries, cafes and bars are allowed to remain open until 10 p.m., but the operations of nighttime entertainment facilities are banned. In addition, school classes will be switched back to online ones, while participants in events such as weddings and funerals will strictly be limited to immediate family and relatives.
Chon Eun-mi, a professor of respiratory medicine at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, also said that the toughest distancing level is now necessary amid growing public fatigue over the prolonged quarantine measures.
"There seems to be no feasible way to bring the current situation under control other than immediately imposing Level 4, at least for the capital area," she said. "The government should send a powerful message to the people who have grown tired of the prolonged distancing."
The government has partially admitted to its complacency. Lee Cheol-hee, senior presidential secretary for political affairs, said, "I humbly accept the criticism over the government's belated antivirus measures," during an interview with local radio, Thursday.
Alarmed by the unrelenting COVID-19 cases in the capital area, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said it is considering raising the distancing level to the highest notch for Seoul.
"Tomorrow is likely to be the first day the weekly average of daily caseloads in Seoul qualifies for Level 4. We are discussing all possibilities open with local governments," a health ministry spokesperson said during a briefing.
Meanwhile, despite the resurgence in infections, the Ministry of Education has reaffirmed its plan to resume in-person classes starting in the fall semester, but it noted that it will respond with appropriate measures depending on the virus situation.
"I hope that the country's all-out efforts will curb the virus spread in July and August," Vice Education Minister Jung Jong-chul said. "If all citizens comply with the quarantine rules and the vaccination program proceeds smoothly, we will be able to reach the goal of full-scale offline classes in the upcoming semester."
m.koreatimes.co.kr
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| People stand in lines to receive a coronavirus test at a public health center in Gangnam District, Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap |
Korea reports record high daily caseload of 1,275
By Lee Hyo-jin
Medical experts called for the strongest possible antivirus distancing measures Thursday after Korea began to grapple with another wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the daily caseload for Wednesday hitting a new record high since the coronavirus outbreak was first reported here, they pointed out that this unprecedented situation is a result of the government's complacent response measures, and warned that the country may see a further increase in infections unless the toughest distancing rules are imposed.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 1,275 new cases for the day, including 1,227 local transmissions, raising the country's aggregate total of infections to 164,028.
This is the largest daily tally since the coronavirus hit the country Jan. 20 last year, and it is the first time the figure has stayed above 1,200 for two consecutive days.
KDCA Commissioner Jeong Eun-kyeong said if the current situation continues, the daily caseload could be 1,400 by the end of July, and if situation worsens, up to 2,140.
"The government's premature moves, such as the relaxation of distancing measures and proposal of incentives for vaccinated people, have given the wrong signals to the public that things will soon return to a pre-COVID-19 normalcy," said Kim Woo-joo, an infectious disease specialist at Korea University Guro Hospital.
He insisted that the health authorities admit their failure and immediately raise the social distancing to Level 4, the highest notch in the new distancing system. "Otherwise, it will be difficult to curb the current virus spread due to the Delta variant," he said.
Under Level 4, private gatherings of over three people are banned in the evening after 6 p.m. Eateries, cafes and bars are allowed to remain open until 10 p.m., but the operations of nighttime entertainment facilities are banned. In addition, school classes will be switched back to online ones, while participants in events such as weddings and funerals will strictly be limited to immediate family and relatives.
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| People wait to receive a coronavirus test at a testing center in Gangnam District, Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap |
"There seems to be no feasible way to bring the current situation under control other than immediately imposing Level 4, at least for the capital area," she said. "The government should send a powerful message to the people who have grown tired of the prolonged distancing."
The government has partially admitted to its complacency. Lee Cheol-hee, senior presidential secretary for political affairs, said, "I humbly accept the criticism over the government's belated antivirus measures," during an interview with local radio, Thursday.
Alarmed by the unrelenting COVID-19 cases in the capital area, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said it is considering raising the distancing level to the highest notch for Seoul.
"Tomorrow is likely to be the first day the weekly average of daily caseloads in Seoul qualifies for Level 4. We are discussing all possibilities open with local governments," a health ministry spokesperson said during a briefing.
Meanwhile, despite the resurgence in infections, the Ministry of Education has reaffirmed its plan to resume in-person classes starting in the fall semester, but it noted that it will respond with appropriate measures depending on the virus situation.
"I hope that the country's all-out efforts will curb the virus spread in July and August," Vice Education Minister Jung Jong-chul said. "If all citizens comply with the quarantine rules and the vaccination program proceeds smoothly, we will be able to reach the goal of full-scale offline classes in the upcoming semester."
