Authorities: "Tomorrow's focus is on adjusting social distancing... Some shortcomings will also be addressed"

Severe and Critical Patients Also Increasing... "If Vaccination Increases, It Will Affect Severe Cases and Deaths"

On the 4th, 1,725 new COVID-19 cases were reported, returning to the 1,700 range after five days. Citizens visiting the temporary screening clinic set up at Seoul Station Plaza are waiting to be tested. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] The announcement of the adjusted social distancing measures, scheduled to take effect from the 9th, is just one day away. As the number of new COVID-19 cases in the country has remained in the 1,000s for a month without showing signs of decline, there is growing support for extending the current Level 4 measures in the metropolitan area. Authorities plan to review and refine parts of the new social distancing system that require improvement as it marks one month since its introduction, alongside the adjustment announcement tomorrow.

On the 5th, Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said during a COVID-19 briefing, "The main agenda of tomorrow’s Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting is how to adjust social distancing, and we will work on refining some issues raised in the field under the new social distancing system that need improvement. We are currently reviewing these matters with local governments and plan to announce the results tomorrow."

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of midnight today, there were 1,776 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 1,717 domestic cases and 59 imported cases. More than half of the domestic cases remain concentrated in the metropolitan area, while 692 cases were reported in non-metropolitan regions.

Son said, "Rather than focusing on the daily number of confirmed cases, we plan to monitor the overall trend while deciding on social distancing measures. Since the epicenter of the outbreak is still the metropolitan area, we will evaluate the situation there and make a comprehensive judgment based on the past few weeks’ data."

Meanwhile, the number of critically ill patients has also surged alongside the increase in COVID-19 cases. The number of critically ill patients rose by 40 in one day, reaching 369. The cumulative death toll increased by 3 from the previous day, totaling 2,109. Son explained, "From that perspective, it is necessary to reduce the number of confirmed cases itself. Vaccinations are progressing rapidly this month, so we expect the vaccination speed to impact the number of critically ill patients and deaths."