Government: "TK is in the early stabilization stage... Not a secure situation"

Park Neung-hoo, the 1st Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Minister of Health and Welfare), is explaining the current response status and plans at the regular COVID-19 briefing held on the afternoon of the 8th at the Government Seoul Office.<이미지:Yonhap News>

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Regarding the somewhat reduced trend of new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions, the government stated that it views this as the initial stage of stabilization. However, it emphasized the need to focus more on quarantine measures as confirmed cases are still being discovered across the country.

Park Neung-hoo, First Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Minister of Health and Welfare), said at a briefing on the 8th, "We judge that the central regions, Daegu and Gyeongbuk, are in the early phase of a change toward stabilization (in the increase of patient numbers)," adding, "There is no observed trend of rapid nationwide spread of COVID-19 yet."

This judgment was made after confirming that, following the first patient identified among Shincheonji Church of Jesus members in Daegu in mid-last month and the subsequent rapid increase in new cases, the number of new cases in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk areas has gradually decreased recently. Since close contact among church members was presumed to be frequent, all Shincheonji members in Daegu were placed under self-quarantine and designated as priority subjects for testing, with most tests completed by this day.

Deputy Head Park said, "Daegu has almost completed diagnostic testing of Shincheonji members and is currently focusing on testing symptomatic general citizens of Daegu, with the number of new cases gradually decreasing," and added, "In Gyeongbuk, cluster infections have occurred in elderly facilities, so efforts are focused on treating severe patients and protecting facilities, while expanding diagnostic testing for high-risk groups such as Shincheonji members."

As of midnight on this day, the total number of COVID-19 patients in South Korea is 7,134. On the 29th of last month, 909 new cases were confirmed in a single day, and since then, 500 to 600 new cases have been reported daily. However, on the 7th, there were 483 new cases, and on this day, 367, showing a decreasing trend in new cases. Deputy Head Park cautioned, "It is not yet the time to say the situation has improved," stating, "Currently, signs of change are appearing, and it is only the early stage of a somewhat calming spread."

He emphasized, "Since many new confirmed cases are still being discovered nationwide, now is the moment to make greater efforts and focus to ensure a more distinct decrease in COVID-19 infections," and added, "The government will concentrate its capabilities on strengthening quarantine management."