On the morning of the 18th, medical staff are preparing to collect samples at the temporary screening clinic for the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19) in the square in front of Seoul Station. News 1
The number of new coronavirus infections (Corona 19) has reached 300 in 54 days. The quarantine authorities emphasized that the current guidelines for distancing should be continued until the 31st, saying, “The third epidemic has entered a decline phase.”
300 new confirmed cases in 54 days
Quarantine authorities “There is a decrease in the amount of inspection on weekends”
The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (middle script) announced that as of 0 o’clock on the 18th, the number of corona19 confirmed cases decreased by 131 from the previous day to 389. In terms of the path of infection, local outbreaks were 366 and foreign inflows were 23. The number of confirmed cases of 300 people has been 54 days since November 25 (382), the initial stage of the third pandemic. Since the peak of the pandemic on the 25th of last month (1240 people), it has been steadily decreasing. Prime Minister Jeong Sye-gyun also said at a critical scripture meeting that “we will start the week with a pledge to achieve a solid stability.”
The effect of reducing the number of tests… Stay away until the 31st
On the morning of the 18th, students are taking classes from a distance at Gangnam Jongno Academy in Seoul. News 1
However, the quarantine authorities drew a line as “a step that is still unsafe.” “It is true that the number of patients was significantly reduced compared to other Mondays,” said Sohn Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Accident Recovery Headquarters at the briefing on this day, but “We believe that the number of confirmed patients has decreased due to the impact of the reduced test volume on Saturday and Sunday.” In fact, on the 17th, the number of suspicious reports reported through screening clinics was 25,930, and the number of temporary screening tests in the metropolitan area was 12,077, a total of 38,071. Compared to the test volume of 84,390 cases on weekdays 14 days and 87,806 cases on 15 days, it is more than half less.
For this reason, regarding the’possibility of easing distances’ raised by some, the quarantine authorities explained that “it is necessary to maintain the current measures until the 31st.” Tae-ho Yoon, head of quarantine at the Central Accident Control Headquarters, said, “There are quite a lot of risk factors in winter, and there are also areas related to mutant viruses.” “Unless the number of confirmed cases rapidly decreases, there is a high possibility that (distance) will continue until the 31st. I said.
Possibility of easing distance after two weeks
On the morning of the 18th when it snowed, a volunteer near the temporary screening test center at Seoul Station is calling for the practice of distancing. yunhap news
However, he added that if the number of confirmed cases steadily decreases, it is possible to consider easing the distancing stage after two weeks. “I hope that the current trend will be maintained and the patient will stably cut off,” said Son. “If that happens, we will be able to (expect) the adjustment of the distancing step or easing the quarantine rules after two weeks.” The government extended social distancing, which is the 2.5th stage in the metropolitan area and the second stage in the non-metropolitan area, by two more weeks from this day to the 31st. Instead, it allowed business in some industries where group bans were applied, such as gyms and karaoke rooms, on the condition that the capacity of one person per 8㎡ of facility area was kept.
In this regard, some entertainment business owners in the Gwangju area protested against the government’s decision and made a move to enforce business. Regarding this, Son added, “There is a risk of re-proliferation and the number of patients currently occurring is large.” “We are trying to persuade them as much as possible to stabilize the spread of infection while maintaining this measure for two weeks.”
Meanwhile, on that day, the quarantine authorities pointed out that’is not it possible to make an exception to the distancing guidelines whenever there is a backlash from the industry?
“The current distancing system was designed through the Daegu epidemic in February and March, the Itaewon club in May, and the metropolitan area in August. All three patterns have spread around group infections in multi-use facilities. “This third epidemic has a limitation because it is more pronounced through private encounters and contacts between individuals than group infection in multi-use facilities.” He explained, “When we review the new distance system, we will correct it again, but it is inevitable to apply a somewhat flexible (distance policy) that reflects the characteristics and circumstances of the fashion.”
Reporter Woorim Lee [email protected]