Seven Announcements of 'Enhanced Quarantine' Over Fifteen Days... "Delayed Response Increased Confusion"

Office Workers and Self-Employed "Too Frequent Changes Make Full Understanding Difficult"
Experts "Unavoidable Due to Rapid Spread... Consistent Messaging Needed"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] Since the end of last month, when the '4th wave' of COVID-19 began mainly in the Seoul metropolitan area, the government has been rolling out numerous large and small measures to strengthen quarantine protocols. After deciding to postpone the introduction of the new social distancing system by one week on the 30th of last month, the government has announced strengthened quarantine measures seven times. Experts pointed out that "delayed responses have increased confusion" and emphasized the importance of proactive and consistent message management.

◆ Confusing quarantine measures changing 'every two days' = According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare and other quarantine authorities on the 16th, there have been seven announcements related to COVID-19 quarantine measures over the past two weeks. Starting with the one-week postponement of the new social distancing system in the metropolitan area on June 30, the announcements included ▲mandatory indoor and outdoor mask-wearing in the metropolitan area and a ban on outdoor drinking after 10 p.m. (July 4) ▲application of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act enforcement rules imposing business suspension for one violation of major quarantine rules (July 6) ▲one-week extension of the existing level 2 social distancing in the metropolitan area (July 7) ▲raising the metropolitan area to level 4 under the new social distancing system (July 9) ▲mandatory submission of a negative PCR test certificate upon entry for Korean nationals as well (July 12) ▲raising social distancing to level 2 in non-metropolitan areas (July 14). This means quarantine measures were adjusted roughly every two to three days. During this period, local governments in non-metropolitan areas also independently adjusted social distancing levels several times. Incentives for fully vaccinated individuals were initially maintained but suddenly excluded, and the metropolitan area's social distancing level jumped directly from level 2 extension to level 4 within two days, showing inconsistent decisions.

Repeated 'quarantine revisions' have caused ongoing confusion on the ground. Especially among self-employed and small business owners who must comply with the changed quarantine rules, there have been complaints. Mr. Kim (in his 30s), who runs a restaurant in Namdong-gu, Incheon, said, "Because local governments do not always provide separate guidance every time social distancing rules change, important information must be checked through news articles." He added, "Recently, some measures have been applied just days after being announced, so many customers stubbornly argue without knowing the changes, saying things like 'I am vaccinated, so I am exempt from capacity limits' or 'I am a direct family member, so it's okay.'"

Ordinary citizens also feel confused by the frequently changing quarantine measures. Mr. Jung (34), an office worker living in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, said, "At first, I carefully checked how quarantine measures changed, but since they change so often, now I only learn the big picture and think about the details when the situation arises." He added, "I believe it is practically impossible to fully understand quarantine rules even for places I regularly visit, such as workplaces, restaurants, and gyms."

On the 16th, with 1,536 new COVID-19 cases reported, marking the tenth consecutive day of over 1,000 cases, citizens visiting the screening clinic set up at Danwon District Office in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, are waiting to get tested. Photo by Jinhyung Kang, Ansan aymsdream@

◆ "Government response delayed by one beat... failure in message management"= Experts acknowledged that frequent adjustments to quarantine measures were inevitable as confirmed cases rapidly increased this month but agreed that the government failed to deliver consistent messages at the early stage of the wave. Professor Jung Jae-hoon of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Gachon University College of Medicine said, "Since vaccination rates are still low and COVID-19 is spreading rapidly in Korea, we have no choice but to respond directly to fluctuations in confirmed cases until next month." He added, "The problem is that although quarantine measures can be frequently adjusted according to the situation, the government insisted on easing measures until early July and then abruptly reversed course."

Professor Chun Eun-mi of the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Ewha Mokdong Hospital criticized, "The confirmed cases identified now were infected one to two weeks ago, so strong proactive quarantine measures are necessary, but the government has continuously responded late by one beat."

There are also calls to increase the public's predictability of quarantine measures through message management, even if the measures are not proactive. Professor Choi Jae-wook of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Korea University College of Medicine said, "Messages that increase predictability, such as 'If a certain situation occurs, this will happen, and quarantine rules will have to be adjusted,' are not being accurately conveyed to the public." He diagnosed, "The recent dissatisfaction stems from the government communicating messages like 'The resurgence of the epidemic is due to the public's responsibility, so we have no choice but to raise social distancing levels,' which shifts blame to the public."

As of midnight on this day, the number of new domestic COVID-19 cases was 1,536, continuing the record of over 1,000 cases for ten consecutive days. Since 1,212 cases were reported on the 7th, marking the start of the '4th wave,' four-digit case counts have continued even on weekends. Among the 1,476 locally transmitted cases on this day, the metropolitan area accounted for 75% (1,107 cases). There were 60 imported cases, with the highest number (26) coming from Indonesia, where the Delta variant is spreading.