"If That's the Case, Why Divide into Stages?" Citizens Frustrated Over Calls for Caution in 3-Stage Escalation

"Contain the Spread Without Step 3" Government Cautious About Raising to Step 3
Experts "Facing Current Limits... Must Implement Step 3 to Stop Spread"

On the 7th, one day before the government implemented the 2.5-level social distancing measure in the Seoul metropolitan area, commuters hurriedly walked wearing masks at Sindorim Station in Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] The number of new domestic cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) continues to record over 1,000 daily, showing no signs of slowing down. The government has urged the public to cooperate in curbing the spread of COVID-19 without raising the social distancing level. Meanwhile, some citizens have expressed dissatisfaction with the government, arguing that the spread cannot be controlled without elevating the distancing level.

Park Neunghoo, First Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Minister of Health and Welfare), stated at a regular briefing on the 20th, "Please endure a little longer and participate so that the spread can be curbed at the current level without raising the distancing to level 3."

Deputy Head Park emphasized, "Level 3 is a very serious stage," adding, "That situation itself assumes a process or state where a significant part of our entire economic process is paralyzed or halted." He explained that an increase in confirmed cases does not necessarily mean the distancing level must be raised.

Earlier, the government noted that the recent trend of new domestic cases has reached the criteria for level 3 social distancing (nationwide 800?1000 or more cases or rapid doubling), and discussions with related ministries on raising the level are underway. However, the government is cautious due to concerns about social and economic damage.

The number of new confirmed cases has set a record high. As of midnight on the 20th, the Central Disease Control Headquarters reported 1,097 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 49,665. This is the highest number since the first confirmed case in the country in January.

In particular, over the past week, the daily new cases were 718 → 880 → 1078 → 1014 → 1064 → 1051 → 1097, averaging about 986 cases per day.

On the 17th, citizens are getting tested at the Jung-gu temporary screening clinic set up at Seoul Station Plaza.
Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

Given this situation, public dissatisfaction with the government’s cautious stance despite meeting the criteria for raising social distancing is growing. Confirmed cases continue to emerge in places such as detention centers, academies, and golf courses, while the number of critically ill patients and deaths is increasing, and hospital bed shortages are worsening.

Regarding the Dongbu Detention Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul, since the first confirmed case on the 27th of last month, 184 people have been confirmed in clusters. As of 5 p.m. on the 20th, a total of 216 people, including staff, inmates, family members, and acquaintances, have tested positive.

Additionally, at an academy in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, a total of 16 people, including students and their families, have been infected, and an epidemiological investigation is underway. At a golf course in Pocheon, since the 18th, 15 people including employees and their families have tested positive.

There was another death of a confirmed patient who was under home quarantine. According to health authorities, a man in his 60s who was confirmed positive and waiting at home in Guro-gu, Seoul, died on the 19th.

Previously, the 122nd death in Seoul occurred when a patient died while waiting for a hospital bed after being confirmed on the 12th. Currently, there is a shortage of intensive care beds not only in Seoul but nationwide.

In online communities such as mom cafes, posts expressing concerns about the government's cautious approach to raising social distancing to level 3 are being posted. Photo by Naver screen capture

In light of these circumstances, criticism of the government’s failure in quarantine measures is pouring in. It is pointed out that the public’s safety is being threatened due to the cautious approach to raising to level 3.

Various online communities and mom cafes have expressed concerns such as, "I don’t know why they aren’t raising to level 3. Won’t everyone get infected at this rate?", "I’m a self-employed person too, but it would be better to have a short and intense level 3 to curb the spread," "They say they are cautious because of the economy, but the cases are increasing too much; shouldn’t they raise the level immediately?", and "Infections are happening in daily life these days, so I think the level should be raised for safety."

A petition criticizing the government’s cautious stance was also posted on the Blue House’s national petition site. The petitioner, who posted under the title "Hello, endless spread of COVID-19 (thoughtless government)," said, "For the past year since January, countless chaotic COVID-19 measures have been rampant," and questioned, "Why are the stages even divided? Isn’t the purpose to raise the level step-by-step to control the spread when it continues or seems to increase?" The petitioner added, "Current measures are causing self-employed people to suffer directly," and urged, "I hope to see an end to policies that confuse the public and ruin self-employed people. Please come up with definite measures."

Some argue that a stronger 'lockdown' than level 3 is necessary. Since the number of patients waiting for hospital beds is increasing and there are concerns about medical staff shortages, they claim that strong measures are needed to reduce new confirmed cases.

Experts point out that raising to level 3 is essential for public safety. Professor Kim Woojoo of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Korea University Guro Hospital said, "At the current situation, social distancing should be raised to level 3 for about two weeks to stop the spread," adding, "It is regrettable that health authorities, who must protect lives, are cautious about raising to level 3 for economic reasons."

He continued, "The spread is ongoing in the community, and epidemiological investigations are facing limitations in keeping up," emphasizing, "Since the outbreak is not being controlled, stronger measures are necessary."