Government: Nationwide COVID-19 Resurgence Depends on Chuseok Quarantine Measures

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] The government emphasized that this Chuseok holiday will be a turning point in determining whether COVID-19 will spread nationwide again, urging strict adherence to quarantine guidelines.

On the 12th, Kwon Deok-cheol, the first head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH), stated in his opening remarks at the CDSCH meeting, "Whether COVID-19 spreads nationwide again or stabilizes after the holiday will be decided by how well the quarantine rules are followed during the Chuseok holiday period." He added, "If the quarantine rules are not properly observed and infections spread, the restoration of daily life that we all hope for will inevitably be delayed."

Head Kwon asked related ministries and local governments to inspect the quarantine status of traditional markets, marts, cultural facilities, and transportation facilities where crowds may gather ahead of the Chuseok holiday, and requested the public to practice quarantine rules such as wearing masks and refraining from gatherings.

He continued, "With the Chuseok holiday just a week away, we cannot help but be tense about the possibility that infections might spread again from the metropolitan area to non-metropolitan areas, as happened during last summer’s vacation season." He added, "While non-metropolitan areas have entered a relatively stable phase, the metropolitan area remains in a crisis. Last week, the daily average number of confirmed cases in the metropolitan area was 1,234, marking a new high and continuing to rise."

Regarding the special Chuseok quarantine measures, Head Kwon explained, "Starting tomorrow, regardless of the social distancing level in each region, visits will be allowed for two weeks at all nursing hospitals and nursing facilities nationwide. If both parents and visitors have completed vaccination and two weeks have passed, contact visits will be permitted, and those who have not yet been vaccinated can share affection through non-contact visits."

He also said, "From this Friday, when the Chuseok holiday begins, up to eight people, including those who have completed vaccination, will be allowed to gather for family meetings at home during the holiday period. This is an unavoidable safety measure to share affection among family members during the holiday while suppressing the spread of COVID-19."

Regarding the progress of vaccination, he stated, "About 5.4 million people participated in vaccination over the past week. As of yesterday, the first-dose vaccination rate reached 64.5%, and the second-dose rate reached 39%." He added, "The government will steadily pursue the goal of achieving 70% first-dose vaccination before the Chuseok holiday and 70% completion of the second dose by October."