[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] As the COVID-19 resurgence intensifies, the number of confirmed police officers in the past week has more than doubled compared to the previous week.
On the 13th, the National Police Agency announced that the total number of police officers nationwide confirmed with COVID-19 reached 429. This is an increase of 111 new cases from 377 the previous day. Fifty-nine officers were released from isolation. This figure represents a 223.4% (237 cases) increase compared to the 192 confirmed police officers on July 6. As a result, the cumulative number of confirmed police officers has risen to 56,108. This means that about one in two or three police officers have been confirmed or have experienced infection with COVID-19.
The number of confirmed cases exceeding 400 is the first since May 20. At that time, the nationwide number of COVID-19 cases dropped below 10,000 starting from that day. The number of confirmed police cases also showed a declining trend, fluctuating between 200 and 300 before falling below 100 in June. However, as the domestic COVID-19 wave shifted back to an upward trend recently, the number returned to the 100s on June 24, rose to the 200s on July 7, reached the 300s the day before, and surged to the 400s on this day.
Looking at confirmed police cases by the National Police Agency and each metropolitan and provincial police agency, the cases are concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area. The National Police Agency reported 2 new confirmed cases on this day, with a total of 9 officers currently undergoing treatment. Among them is Yoon Hee-geun, the candidate for the Commissioner of the National Police Agency. Candidate Yoon tested positive for COVID-19 on the 10th and is currently in self-isolation. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency had the highest number of confirmed cases nationwide with 110. The Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency followed with 70 cases. The Incheon Police Agency and Gyeonggi Bukbu Police Agency reported 17 and 16 cases respectively. Police officers confirmed in the metropolitan area (222 cases) account for 51.7% of the total.
Outside the metropolitan area, the Busan Police Agency and Ulsan Police Agency each had 32 cases, the highest numbers, followed by the Gyeongnam Police Agency with 23, the Gyeongbuk Police Agency with 21, and the Daegu Police Agency with 17. All are in the Yeongnam region.
The police are closely monitoring the recent increase in confirmed cases and maintaining the existing system. According to the 'COVID-19 Police Station Quarantine Measures,' which is the police's COVID-19 response manual, when a confirmed case occurs, the quarantine scope follows the management standards of health authorities. However, considering the nature of the police responsible for public safety, the department head decides and adjusts quarantine measures based on the security conditions and degree of contact at each station. The National Police Agency stated, "Measures will be taken according to plans established by each police station based on quarantine measures to ensure that the core functions of each department are maintained."
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