[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seoul Gangnam-gu (District Mayor Jung Soon-gyun) announced on the 19th that, in line with the government's policy and to ensure the health and safety of students ahead of the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), starting from the 19th of next month, Pfizer vaccinations will be administered at the Gangnam-gu Vaccination Centers (Ilwon Eco Center and Gangnam Tourism Information Center) to 5,900 third-year high school students and 1,400 faculty members from 22 high schools in the district.
Recently, with the addition of Moderna, the types of COVID-19 vaccines available domestically have increased to four: AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Janssen, and Moderna. The first batch of Moderna vaccines will be administered starting this week to healthcare workers and prospective healthcare workers under 30 years old affiliated with tertiary hospitals.
Until the 25th, Janssen vaccinations for reservists aged 30 to under 60 and civil defense personnel will be conducted at designated medical institutions within the district, with the program continuing until this Sunday.
Additionally, the first dose of Pfizer vaccinations for residents aged 75 and older was completed last week. Out of 24,000 eligible individuals, 23,600 received the first dose, and 12,000 have completed the second dose. Gangnam-gu has decided to extend the vaccination period until the end of this month for those who could not get vaccinated due to personal reasons.
According to the third-quarter vaccination plan announced by the government on the 17th, starting in July, vaccinations will be administered to those who missed their appointments in June, third-year high school students and teachers, and people in their 50s. From August, vaccinations will be extended to those aged 40 and below.
The number of people who have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Korea has surpassed 14 million. This achievement exceeded the first-half goal of 13 million vaccinations just 112 days after vaccinations began on February 26.
The authorities plan to complete the first dose vaccinations for 36 million people, which is 70% of the entire population, by September.
Recently, following the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also upgraded the status of the India-origin variant virus to a "variant of concern." Known as the "Delta variant," this virus is more contagious than previous strains and may reduce vaccine effectiveness. This is why some countries, including Germany, have strengthened controls on travelers arriving from the UK and India, where the Delta variant is prevalent. However, recent research shows that Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines are effective against the India-origin variant.
There is also hopeful news that enough vaccines will be secured to supply the global population by the end of next year. The CEO of Pfizer predicted, "Starting with developed countries by the end of this year, COVID-19 will be eradicated worldwide by the end of next year."
A photo of President Moon Jae-in attending the G7 summit in the UK as an observer has become a hot topic on social media. In the photo, U.S. President Biden, UK Prime Minister Johnson, French President Macron, and the UN Secretary-General are seen pointing at President Moon, calling South Korea "the world's best model for quarantine." Netizens from neighboring Japan expressed envy, saying, "This scene shows the trust in the country called Korea itself."
As confirmed during President Moon's "vaccine sales" tour in Europe before returning on the 18th, the government is showing strong determination to achieve herd immunity through vaccine procurement. According to health authorities, if 10 million doses of AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Janssen, and Moderna vaccines are introduced next month, vaccinations in the second half of the year are expected to accelerate.
The COVID-19 status in Gangnam-gu is as follows.
◇Confirmed Cases Status
As of the 18th, confirmed cases have reached number 2910. Cases 2897, 2901 to 2903, 2906, 2907, and 2910 tested positive after contact with confirmed cases from other regions. Cases 2900, 2905, and 2909 were confirmed as family members of previously confirmed Gangnam-gu residents. Cases 2898, 2899, 2904, and 2908 were confirmed after showing symptoms such as fever, but their infection routes are unknown and epidemiological investigations are ongoing.
◇Self-Quarantine Status
As of the 18th, Gangnam-gu is managing 2,341 people in self-quarantine, of whom 1,669 are overseas arrivals and 672 are domestic contacts.
◇Number of Tests Conducted
The cumulative number of tests conducted at Gangnam-gu Public Health Center's screening clinics and temporary screening sites is 516,575. On the 17th, among 2,867 tested individuals, 110 were overseas arrivals and 2,757 were domestic residents.
To prevent cluster infections in large private academies, Gangnam-gu has introduced COVID-19 diagnostic self-test kits and is conducting mass testing of targeted individuals. In this regard, testing is planned for 480 instructors and staff members belonging to 80 art academies in Daechi-dong, where face-to-face contact with students is unavoidable due to practical classes.
Mass testing has been conducted at six comprehensive cram schools where students study all day, and 139 sites including reconstruction construction sites such as Gaepo 1st and 4th complexes. So far, about 9,600 people have been tested, with no confirmed cases yet.
Meanwhile, Gangnam-gu has completed installing the "Safe Call" system, which registers entry with a single phone call, at about 20,000 multi-use facilities such as restaurants and indoor sports facilities within the district.
Since the early stages of the outbreak, proactive testing has been conducted based on the infectious disease response principle of "early detection, early containment," resulting in over 510,000 tests conducted in Gangnam-gu.
Recently, nearly 3,000 to 4,000 people are being tested daily in Gangnam-gu, with about 20 new confirmed cases occurring daily. At this time, adherence to basic quarantine rules and proactive testing to identify "hidden infections" are considered the best measures to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
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