"When Will It End?" Another 2-Week Extension of Social Distancing... Exhausted Citizens

Social Distancing in the Seoul Metropolitan Area Extended for 2 Weeks from the 26th
Daily Confirmed Cases Remain in the 1,000s... 'Short and Intense Quarantine' Shaken
"Vacation Plans Ruined" Some Citizens Express Fatigue
Experts Say "Painful but Best Measures Considering Incubation Period Must Be Prepared"

On the afternoon of the 25th, the roads around Taepyeong-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, are seen to be quiet. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] "It's extended again. When will this ever end?", "My carefully planned vacation is completely ruined."

As the social distancing level 4 in the Seoul metropolitan area has been extended for two weeks starting from the 26th, citizens are expressing fatigue. Contrary to the government's earlier declaration at the beginning of this month to curb the spread of COVID-19 with 'short and intense' quarantine measures, there is growing anxiety that the high-intensity distancing may continue. Some argue that the policy of deciding whether to raise or ease distancing every two weeks might actually be causing confusion among citizens.

On the afternoon of the 25th, President Moon Jae-in chaired a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) at the Blue House National Crisis Management Center and announced the implementation of strengthened quarantine measures.

According to the government, starting from the 26th, the level 4 social distancing in the metropolitan area will be extended for another two weeks, and in non-metropolitan areas, the level will be raised from 2 to 3.

Regarding this, President Moon said, "I am very sorry and saddened that the painful time the people must endure is getting longer. Although the high-intensity measures over the past two weeks did not completely suppress the spread, they were able to somewhat curb the rapid increase in confirmed cases. We intend to continue this effect and firmly break the spread over the next two weeks."

He added, "It will be difficult and hard for the people, but just as you actively cooperated over the past two weeks, I ask you to endure a little more and unite your strength so that we can quickly overcome this critical moment."

On the 26th, weeds have overgrown at Jamsil Outdoor Swimming Pool in Hangang Park, Songpa-gu, Seoul, which has not been open for two consecutive years due to COVID-19. / Photo by Yonhap News

Despite President Moon's repeated appeals, some citizens are expressing fatigue. Doubts are growing that the government is moving further away from the 'short and intense high-intensity quarantine' it previously mentioned.

The government had proactively raised the metropolitan area's social distancing to level 4 starting from the 12th to block the spread of the 'Delta variant,' known to be more contagious than the existing COVID-19 virus. At that time, President Moon said, "We will do our best to end it quickly and decisively." However, even after two weeks, the daily new confirmed cases remain above 1,000, and the infection rate has not decreased.

There are also criticisms that the 'short and intense quarantine' is already a thing of the past. Initially, the government planned to apply the 'revised social distancing' from the beginning of this month and ease the quarantine rules in the metropolitan area. However, as the spread was more severe than expected, a one-week grace period was applied, and when the numbers still did not decrease, the distancing level was raised. In effect, high-intensity quarantine guidelines have continued at one- or two-week intervals for the past month.

Given this situation, citizens met on the ground expressed feelings of frustration.

A social distancing notice is seen on a restaurant table. / Photo by Yonhap News

A in their 20s, an office worker living in Seoul, said, "Parks have been closed and bars shut down all this time, and now hearing that it will be extended for another two weeks makes me feel helpless. It feels like being subjected to so-called 'false hope'."

Another office worker B (29) said, "Because the disappointment is so great around me, the sense of caution seems to be loosening. Only those who want to follow the quarantine rules do so, and many people insist on going on vacation regardless of the distancing level, which is worrisome."

C (33), who works at a restaurant in the metropolitan area, said, "The quarantine policies change every one or two weeks, so I don't know which rhythm to follow. Both business owners and customers are confused. They said if we tighten the reins for two weeks, they would loosen them again, so I trusted and followed, but if they extend it like this, what will happen to the self-employed?"

Experts emphasize that although the extension of social distancing is painful for the public, it is most important to establish the best quarantine guidelines considering the virus's incubation period.

Professor Eom Jung-sik of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Gachon University Gil Medical Center said, "As the distancing measures are repeatedly extended by one or two weeks, more people are losing patience, but we need to think about it from another perspective. If instead of reviewing whether to raise or ease every two weeks, a policy had been used to maintain high-intensity distancing until the number of confirmed cases clearly decreased, the public's resentment would have been greater."

He continued, "It is good to make quarantine guidelines flexible, but the most important thing is safety. For COVID-19, the incubation period of carriers is known to be up to about 14 days. Evaluating the infection level by checking the number of confirmed cases every two weeks is currently a reasonable approach."