Today, 400 people are expected again… Announcement on the 26th as soon as possible

Input 2021.02.24 07:00

Although the number of newly confirmed coronavirus infections (Corona 19) in Korea fell to 300, the possibility of returning to an increase again increased. The proportion of patients whose infection route is unknown exceeds 20%, and cases of new group infections from the last Lunar New Year holiday are following. The government has decided on a distancing adjustment plan to be applied from next week, taking into account the trend of the occurrence of confirmed cases, and is expected to announce it as early as the 26th.

According to the Central Defense Countermeasure Headquarters on the 24th, a total of 357 new corona19 confirmed cases as of 0 o’clock the previous day. It was 25 more than the previous day, which was 332, but it remained at 300 for two days in a row. However, there are 385 new confirmed cases that the quarantine authorities and local governments, such as the Seoul Metropolitan Government, counted mid-way from 0:00 to 9:00 on the previous day, and if the number of confirmed cases counted by 0:00 is added, it is highly likely to enter the 400 range.

In the last week, the number of new confirmed cases has been recorded as 621 → 621 → 561 → 448 → 416 → 332 → 357. The average number is 479 per day. An average of 452 confirmed cases of regional outbreaks, which is a key indicator of the adjustment of the distance stage, is still in the range of 2.5 stages of distance (over 400 to 500 persons nationwide, or rapid increase in patients such as doubling).

Compared to the rapid increase to 600 people a week before the Lunar New Year holiday, the number of confirmed cases has significantly decreased, but there is an evaluation that the number of tests on weekends and holidays has decreased significantly and the number of new confirmed cases has dropped to 300. This means that if the number of tests increases again, the number of confirmed cases may increase from the middle of the week.

Sporadic group infections are continuing across the country. Seven new confirmed cases were released in connection with the Gyeongnam-Gyeonggi New Year holiday meeting, and five additional infections were confirmed in connection with the Lunar New Year holiday family meeting in Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do, and the cumulative number of confirmed cases was 19. The number of confirmed cases was added to 67.

The quarantine authorities predicted that the number of patients will increase over three days from 24 to 26, when the’weekend and holiday effect’ disappears. Sohn Young-rae, head of the social strategy team at the Central Accident Recovery Headquarters (Su-bon), said in a back briefing the day before, “It is likely that the number of patients will increase from tomorrow (24th), and we must see how far the increase will go by the 26th.”

The current distancing measures, such as the second phase of the metropolitan area and the 1.5th phase of the non-capital area, will end on the 28th. The government is struggling with the distancing adjustment plan to be applied starting next week. Considering the vaccination starting on the 26th and the opening of elementary, middle and high schools next week, there is no choice but to maintain at least the current stage or further strengthen quarantine, but the economic damage and national fatigue of small business owners and self-employed persons due to prolonged distance cannot be ignored.

The new distance adjustment plan is expected to be announced as early as the 26th. Regarding the timing of the announcement, Son said, “I’m thinking about Friday (26th) or Saturday (27th).”