Government Rushing to Resume 'With Corona'... Prime Minister Kim Predicts "Courageous Decision"

A set of 'Home Medicine Kit for COVID-19 Home Treatment' is being sold at a pharmacy in Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Son Seon-hee] Amid the Omicron variant virus causing new confirmed cases to remain in the 50,000 range for four consecutive days, the government is accelerating preparations to resume phased daily recovery (With Corona). Although the number of confirmed cases has surged, the number of severe and critical patients has not increased proportionally, and the medical system is judged to be stably managed.

According to the Office for Government Policy Coordination on the 13th, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, who is the head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, plans to preside over two meetings of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on the 16th and 18th of this week. The current social distancing measures, which limit private gatherings to six people and business hours until 9 p.m., are set to end on the 20th.

Regarding the level of social distancing to be applied from the 21st, it is expected to be announced on the 18th as usual, but the government has hinted at the possibility of adjustments even during the week. At the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on the 11th, Prime Minister Kim said, "If it is judged that severe and critical cases and deaths are stably maintained and the quarantine situation can be managed to some extent, I will make a courageous decision at any time." Lee Ki-il, the first controller of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, also said, "There is still a week left until the end of social distancing, but if adjustments can be made despite that, we will do so."

The reason the government is considering easing social distancing despite the surge in confirmed cases appears to be due to strong demands for relaxation from self-employed and small business owners affected by prolonged quarantine measures. It is expected that business hour restrictions will be eased first. Additionally, as tens of thousands of confirmed cases occur sporadically, there are criticisms that QR codes and entry log registrations to track movements have become virtually ineffective, leading to calls for reducing these measures and focusing on managing severe and critical cases and deaths.

However, within the government, quarantine authorities are showing a conservative stance on easing social distancing, and debates are expected until the last moment. Not only quarantine authorities but also private experts warn that new confirmed cases could uncontrollably rise to 100,000 within this month. Since the peak is still unknown and there is concern that severe and critical patients may increase again, it is pointed out that it is premature to ease social distancing.