Announcement on Extension of Level 2 'Social Distancing' Measures in Non-Capital Regions to Be Made This Afternoon

On the 14th, when the social distancing measures strengthened due to the resurgence of COVID-19 were downgraded to level 2, commuters were walking along Sejong-daero in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Hyewon] The government will announce on the afternoon of the 20th whether to extend the 'social distancing' level 2 measures in non-metropolitan areas.

While the number of new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country has remained in the 100s for over two weeks, indicating a slowdown in the rapid spread, health authorities remain on alert ahead of the Chuseok holiday, when people's movement is expected to increase.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) will discuss whether to extend the level 2 distancing measures in non-metropolitan areas until before the Chuseok holiday during today's meeting, and will announce the results at the regular briefing around 4:30 p.m.

In the metropolitan area, where cluster infections have intensified since mid-last month, level 2 measures will be maintained until the 27th, but in non-metropolitan areas, the measures are set to expire today. If the government does not decide to extend, the measures will end today.

In non-metropolitan areas, since the 4th (61 cases), the number of locally transmitted confirmed cases has remained below the level 1 distancing threshold of 'less than 50 cases.' Over the past two weeks (6th to 19th), the average number of new locally transmitted confirmed cases was 29.9. New cluster infection cases have also noticeably decreased.

Considering that the cumulative confirmed cases in the metropolitan area as of the previous day were 9,950 (Seoul 4,944, Gyeonggi 4,130, Incheon 876), the situation in non-metropolitan areas is relatively less severe.

However, the fact that the Chuseok holiday is only about a week away could be a variable. If the distancing level is lowered to level 1, there is concern that COVID-19 could rapidly resurge during the Chuseok holiday, when there is a large floating population, with 'hidden infected individuals' acting as a link. Some argue that since the government has already decided to apply special quarantine measures equivalent to level 2 distancing during the Chuseok holiday, easing distancing measures in the interim period (21st to 29th) could cause confusion among the public regardless of concerns about infection spread.

Professor Ki Moran of the National Cancer Center said, "Since Chuseok is a week away, it seems difficult to lower the distancing level," and added, "Specific measures to be applied during the special Chuseok quarantine period will be further discussed by the Living Quarantine Committee."