This Week's Daily Average in Japan at 300s, Social Distancing Extended for 2 Weeks... Will the Spread Be Contained?

This Week's Daily Average in the Mid-300s... Level 2 Standard

As the third wave of COVID-19 continues in South Korea, on the 28th, citizens lined up in a long queue at the temporary screening clinic at Seoul Station in Jung-gu, Seoul, to get tested. As of midnight that day, the number of new confirmed cases was recorded at 356. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] The daily average number of domestic COVID-19 cases over the past week has recorded in the mid-300s. With the number of confirmed cases remaining stagnant without a sharp increase or decrease, the government has decided to extend the current social distancing measures (Level 2 in the metropolitan area, Level 1.5 in non-metropolitan areas) for two more weeks until the 14th of next month.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH), as of midnight on the 28th, there were 356 new domestic COVID-19 cases. Due to a decrease in testing over the weekend, the number of confirmed cases also dropped by 59 compared to the previous day, reflecting the weekend effect. In terms of infection routes, 334 cases were locally transmitted, and 22 were imported. The number of new cases over the past week from the 22nd recorded as 332 → 356 → 440 → 395 → 390 → 415 → 356.

On the 26th, the health authorities decided to extend the social distancing levels applied from next month for an additional two weeks. This is interpreted as a determination to completely block the resurgence of COVID-19 amid the full-scale rollout of vaccinations.

In particular, the start of the new semester next month, with some face-to-face classes resuming, is also a cause for concern. Face-to-face classes will first be conducted mainly for 1st and 2nd graders in elementary school and 3rd graders in high school.

At a briefing the previous day, Kwon Jun-wook, the 2nd Deputy Director of the CDCH, said, "Although vaccinations have begun, it will take considerable time before the effect of curbing the spread appears," adding, "Strict adherence to quarantine rules and focusing on social distancing before and after vaccination are necessary to quickly reach a level of controlling the outbreak." He also expressed concern regarding the new semester, stating, "After university classes begin, campus density will increase, and events and gatherings are expected to rise."

Meanwhile, COVID-19 vaccinations started on the 26th, and within two days, the cumulative number of vaccinated people reached 20,322. Following 19,105 on the first day, an additional 1,217 people received the vaccine on the second day, the 27th. The government plans to proceed with vaccinations smoothly to complete the first dose for 70% of the population by September and achieve herd immunity by November.