Expected 300 people today… Increased distance in the aftermath of the Lunar New Year holiday

Input 2021.02.22 06:42 | Revision 2021.02.22 06:52

One week after the’social distancing’ step for responding to the new coronavirus infection in Korea (Corona 19) was eased, concerns about re-proliferation are rising. The government believes that the effects of the Lunar New Year holidays and the easing of distancing may appear in earnest from this week, and it is a position that it may consider raising the distancing step according to the trend of the occurrence of confirmed cases.

According to the Central Defense Countermeasure Headquarters (Bangdaebon) on the 22nd, the number of new confirmed cases, which soared to 600 immediately after the Lunar New Year holiday, has recently dropped to 400. As of 0 o’clock the day before Sunday, a total of 416 new cases were confirmed. Compared to Saturday, which was the previous day (448), the number of people decreased by 32, and the second day remained at 400.

The quarantine authorities predicted that as of 0 o’clock on the day, the number of new confirmed cases will be recorded at 300. The number of new confirmed cases counted midway from 0 o’clock the previous day to 9 PM was 295. If the number of new confirmed cases is down to 300, this is only one week since the 15th (343).

The number of confirmed cases is expected to decrease from the previous day, but warning lights were lit on the main quarantine indicators. The reproductive index of infection, which shows how many people around one confirmed person infect, again exceeded 1. If this index is less than 1, it means’trend suppression’, and if it is more than 1, it means’trend spread’.

The infection reproductive index fell to the 0.79 level as of January 10-16, and then recorded 0.82→0.95→ 0.96→0.96 week by week, reaching a value close to 1. In the case of the metropolitan area, it has recently reached 1.1. Sohn Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division of the Central Accident Control Headquarters, explained at a briefing the day before that “the continuing trend of the spread of the Corona 19 epidemic in the metropolitan area is a point of concern.”

The government believes that the spread of infection is in earnest due to the Lunar New Year holidays and easing distance. Regarding the recent situation, Mr. Son said, “Manufacturing in a ‘3-mil’ (close, dense, closed) environment, as well as foreign workers, as well as local group infections such as families and acquaintances, and multi-use facilities, are steadily increasing.” It is judged as the effect of the relaxation and the Lunar New Year holidays.”

As the number of confirmed cases increased after lowering the distancing stage, the government, which tried to apply a new distancing system from early March, is struggling. The government has yet to conclude whether the current spreading trend is temporary or whether the fashion is in full swing again. I’ll have to watch more this week to know.

Sohn also said, “The third epidemic, which was in a declining trend, is showing an increase again, but it is necessary to look closely at how it will unfold,” and said, “We should pay close attention to the situation this week and review the adjustment of distance steps and quarantine measures if necessary “He said.