Health Authorities Urge to Postpone or Cancel Unnecessary Indoor Gatherings

Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters (Director of the Korea National Institute of Health). [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] The quarantine authorities urged compliance with quarantine rules at restaurants and requested to "postpone or cancel unnecessary indoor gatherings such as at restaurants." They also explained that even if a vaccine for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is developed, it is necessary to wait until large-scale vaccinations are completed and the preventive effects are confirmed, so quarantine measures must be carried out with the goal of minimizing damage.

At a briefing on the 4th, Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Head of the Central Quarantine Countermeasures Headquarters, said, "Especially in the case of restaurants, it is difficult to wear masks, and infection transmission can occur in close environments," adding, "It is better to postpone or cancel unnecessary indoor gatherings such as at restaurants."

Deputy Head Kwon urged, "Please comply with quarantine rules," and said, "When using restaurants, avoid visiting during crowded times, be sure to wash hands and use hand sanitizer before eating, and always wear a mask when entering the restaurant and before and after meals." He also said, "Use shared tongs for communal food, and since there is a risk of transmission during meals, please refrain from conversation as much as possible."

New confirmed cases 63... 36 in the community · 27 imported

Last month, citizens waiting to get tested at a screening clinic set up at the Songpa-gu Public Health Center in Seoul./Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

On that day, a total of 63 new confirmed cases occurred, bringing the cumulative total to 13,030. There were 36 cases in the community and 27 imported cases.

Regarding the gym visited by residents of Jangam Jugong Apartment in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, 4 additional cases were confirmed, bringing the total cumulative confirmed cases to 25.

In relation to Juyounggwang Church in Manan-gu, Anyang City, one additional confirmed case was found in a coworker of a church member who works at Yangji SLC Logistics Center, bringing the total cumulative confirmed cases to 24. It was investigated that the church did not properly ventilate during worship and also provided meals.

Fortunately, regarding Yeongi Academy in Jung-gu, Daegu, after testing a total of 1,560 staff and students at four schools attended by the confirmed cases, no additional confirmed cases were found.

In Daejeon, 6 additional confirmed cases were reported related to The Better Clinic in Seo-gu, Daejeon, linked to a confirmed case that occurred on the 2nd.

Regarding Gwangnyeoksa Temple in Gwangju, 4 additional confirmed cases were reported, bringing the total cumulative confirmed cases to 61. Also, 6 new confirmed cases were reported related to Ilgok Central Church in Gwangju. Deputy Head Kwon said, "An investigation is underway regarding the connection to the existing cluster outbreak at Gwangnyeoksa."

Among the 27 imported confirmed cases, the regions of import were 12 from Kazakhstan, 3 from Pakistan, with Asia accounting for 21 cases, the highest number. The Americas had 3 cases, and Europe had 4 cases.

Regarding Remdesivir, as of 12:00 on the 4th, treatment applications for 19 severe patients at 14 hospitals have been received, and supply has begun to all of them, Deputy Head Kwon explained.

Golf course transmission: "It is difficult to conclude that golf itself is the transmission link"

Regarding cases in Yeoju and Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, where confirmed cases played golf together and then tested positive, Gwak Jin, Patient Management Team Leader of the Quarantine Countermeasures Headquarters, explained, "It is not just playing golf together, but also moving together and having meals afterward, so it is difficult to conclude that golf itself is the transmission link."

With daily new confirmed cases exceeding 50 for three consecutive days, regarding whether to raise social distancing to level 2, Deputy Head Kwon said, "There is no doubt that the current situation is serious," but added, "The quarantine authorities hold the position that domestic community transmission should be prioritized first." He explained, "We will calmly judge the possibility of raising the level while looking at the scale in the community and genetic analysis results, despite the serious situation."