Health Authorities: "Extension of Ban on Gatherings of Five or More Will Be Decided Based on Overall Assessment"

"Shift to Decrease in Patient Cases"
"Continued Spread of Person-to-Person Infection... Weekend Mobility Up 13%"

Opposition to Designation of Infectious Disease Dedicated Nursing Hospitals is "Ongoing Efforts for Dialogue"

Yoon Tae-ho, Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' Quarantine General Division [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] On the 20th, health authorities stated that the decision to extend the "ban on gatherings of five or more people" to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) "is not linked to the trend in the number of confirmed cases" and "is a matter to be decided through an overall judgment."

Yoon Tae-ho, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' quarantine team, explained at the regular briefing of the COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters held that day, "The ban on private gatherings of five or more people was a measure separately created in preparation for the third wave," adding, "It is intended to suppress the upward curve of the outbreak as much as possible, independently of the social distancing levels."

Yoon also said, "Currently, more than half of the confirmed cases are infections resulting from contact between individuals," and added, "This matter will be decided after comprehensive review, expert consultation, and discussions with central government departments and local governments."

Yoon once again urged minimizing contact between people to stabilize the outbreak. He said, "Although the number of cases has shifted to a downward trend, the spread of infection through contact between individuals continues," and "especially, last weekend saw about a 13% increase in mobility compared to the previous weekend."

Yoon warned, "Recent adjustments to quarantine measures have taken into account small business owners who are facing great difficulties in their livelihoods," adding, "It is by no means a situation to lower our guard, and if we become complacent, the scale of the outbreak can grow again at any time." He urged, "To stabilize the current outbreak, above all, we must minimize contact between people," and "please cancel all private gatherings, meetings, and travel, and especially adhere strictly to the ban on gatherings of five or more people."

On the 18th, when COVID-19 quarantine measures for multi-use facilities such as cafes and gyms were partially eased, citizens were drinking beverages at a cafe in downtown Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

Regarding the criticism that designated medical institutions for infectious disease-dedicated nursing hospitals and their surrounding areas are protesting and demanding the withdrawal of the designation, Yoon explained, "Many infectious disease-dedicated nursing hospitals are located within cities, but there are hardly any cases of transmission to the local community through them," adding, "They are taking the safest quarantine measures and managing thoroughly." He further responded, "It is necessary to sufficiently explain and make efforts through dialogue."

Yoon also explained that to prevent cases where recovered patients without infectiousness are refused admission, incentives such as an additional payment of 10 infection prevention management fees are provided to nursing hospitals that admit such patients.

Meanwhile, Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Team at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, who also attended the briefing, emphasized regarding former President Park Geun-hye, who is detained at Seoul Detention Center and underwent PCR testing after close contact with a COVID-19 positive staff member, that "The contact history or positive/negative test results of a specific individual cannot be disclosed under the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act," and "No information about the test results of any specific individual has been disclosed over the past year."

Finally, Yoon said, "It has been exactly one year since the first patient was detected and confirmed during quarantine on January 20 last year and was admitted to Incheon Medical Center for treatment," and expressed his gratitude by saying, "I believe that the active participation of the people and the spirit of solidarity were the greatest foundation for overcoming the crises," thanking the public, medical staff, frontline healthcare workers, quarantine personnel, and local government officials deeply.