"Infection route unknown exceeds 1/4... Means infection speed has outpaced epidemiological investigation speed"
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] Kwon Deok-cheol, the first deputy head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Minister of Health and Welfare), expressed concern, stating, "The spread of COVID-19 has started again," and "The proportion of patients with unclear infection routes, whose source of infection is unknown, continues to increase, showing signs of a crisis."
Minister Kwon stated at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on COVID-19 held at the Government Seoul Office on the 11th, "The number of new domestic confirmed cases, which fluctuated around 400 from mid-January, increased to an average of about 580 per day last week (April 4?10)." He added, "Especially since last Wednesday, the nationwide daily average of new confirmed cases has been about 640, with about 430 cases daily in the metropolitan area alone, and the number of patients is increasing in almost all local governments outside the metropolitan area." He expressed a sense of crisis, saying, "Infections are occurring everywhere in daily life?from schools and academies where children spend their time, to restaurants we visit, indoor sports facilities, workplaces, and homes."
He continued, "In November last year, the proportion of patients with unclear infection routes was only 13%, but recently it has risen to more than a quarter of the total confirmed cases." He emphasized, "This is a warning sign that the speed of COVID-19 infection is outpacing the epidemiological investigation by health authorities and means that 'silent infections' caused by hidden confirmed cases are frequently occurring throughout the community."
Regarding the social distancing measures to be applied for three weeks starting from the 12th, Minister Kwon said, "To minimize inconvenience and damage to the public, the current social distancing level will be maintained, but enhanced quarantine measures such as bans on gatherings at entertainment facilities will be implemented, focusing on the metropolitan area and regions with cluster infections." He added, "For symptomatic individuals who need COVID-19 testing, the diagnostic testing system will be improved so that tests can be conducted within 48 hours, and even asymptomatic individuals who require testing will be able to get tested at nearby screening clinics."
He also stated, "A government joint inspection team will be formed to carefully check for any blind spots in quarantine, and each ministry will take responsibility for managing facilities and industries under their jurisdiction."
Furthermore, he said, "On the 12th, a special quarantine measures inspection meeting will be held with the President and relevant ministers to assess the current situation and review quarantine measures together," adding, "The results will be reported to the public."
Meanwhile, the meeting on the same day discussed regional quarantine measures, call center quarantine strategies, and plans to resume AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine inoculations. The government decided, following discussions by the Vaccination Expert Committee, to resume AZ vaccine inoculations for those aged 30 and above starting from the 12th.
Minister Kwon urged, "The government will make every effort to speed up vaccinations by establishing additional vaccination centers and expanding weekend vaccinations. If the public trusts experts and the government and actively participates in vaccination, we will be able to achieve herd immunity for the recovery of daily life."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
