Average Daily New Cases 28.9... 1.6 Times Higher Than 18.4 in Previous 2 Weeks
Government "Blocking Chain of Serial Infections in 수도권 Important in Next 1-2 Weeks"
"Risk Level Rising... Not Yet Time to Adjust 'Social Distancing' Stage"
[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The average daily number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in South Korea over the past two weeks was 28.9, an increase from 18.4 in the previous two weeks.
The COVID-19 outbreak, which began at clubs in Itaewon, Seoul, has spread sequentially through academies, PC rooms, karaoke rooms, and restaurants, and the cluster infection originating from the Coupang Bucheon logistics center rapidly expanded to surrounding areas.
However, the government has repeatedly stated that despite the rise in risk indicators, the current level is still manageable within the existing quarantine and medical system nationwide, and it will maintain the 'distancing in daily life' stage while focusing all efforts on blocking the spread of infection mainly in the metropolitan area over the next two weeks.
According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) on the 31st, the average daily new confirmed cases from May 17 to 30 (28.9 cases) were about 10 more than the previous two weeks (18.4 cases).
Although the number of new confirmed cases has increased, it is still below 50, which is within the capacity of the medical system. The number of patients currently under treatment is 793, indicating that the treatment system still has some capacity.
However, the proportion of patients with unknown infection routes rose from 6.2% to 7.4% during the same period, and the 'proportion of cases detected within the quarantine network,' which refers to the percentage of confirmed cases detected while in self-quarantine, fell below 80%, indicating a worsening situation.
The government aims to maintain ▲an average of fewer than 50 new cases per day ▲less than 5% of cases with unknown infection routes ▲and a management rate within the quarantine network of 80% or higher.
Park Neung-hoo, the first deputy head of the CDSCH (Minister of Health and Welfare), said at a briefing that day, "Although the overall risk level has been rising over the past two weeks, the number of patients is still within the capacity of our medical system, so it is not yet time to adjust the nationwide distancing in daily life stage."
However, he emphasized, "New confirmed cases are increasing mainly in the metropolitan area, and sporadic cases with unknown infection routes are occurring, so strict measures are necessary in the metropolitan area."
On the 31st, when concerns about the resurgence of COVID-19 centered around the Seoul metropolitan area were rising, Seoul Hangang Park was crowded with many citizens. Most of the visitors to Hangang Park that day were not wearing masks and did not practice social distancing, rendering the government's strengthened quarantine measures ineffective. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@
As of noon that day, the cumulative number of confirmed cases related to the Coupang Bucheon logistics center was 111, three more than the previous day, showing that the increase in confirmed cases has slowed. However, it is uncertain how far the local transmission linked to existing infected individuals will spread, and sporadic local infections continue to emerge.
Deputy Head Park said, "The metropolitan area faces a critical moment in the next one to two weeks to block the chain of sequential infections. If this is not effectively blocked, daily life, including the school reopening that has been difficult to start, could be disrupted," expressing concern.
Earlier, the government decided to strengthen quarantine management at a level equivalent to social distancing in all areas except for school attendance in the metropolitan areas of Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi Province until June 14. Local governments have also issued high-intensity measures such as 'assembly restrictions,' which effectively mean business suspension for academies and PC rooms.
Meanwhile, as church-related infections showed signs of increasing again, with pastors, congregants, and families in Anyang and Gunpo, Gyeonggi Province, being collectively infected through church activities, the government requested not only regular worship services but also small gatherings to be refrained from.
Deputy Head Park said, "Small gatherings such as choir practice and Bible study during church activities are causing significant problems. Our assessment is that quarantine rules such as maintaining a 2-meter distance and keeping attendance logs are hardly being followed," adding, "So far, quarantine rules have been emphasized only for regular worship services, but we will review whether small gatherings within churches fall under 'high-risk activities' and prepare related guidelines."
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