While gym owners are protesting against the government’s quarantine measures, the government asked for cooperation, saying, “A ban on gatherings is inevitable.” It also announced that it will review the business allowance if additional social distancing until the 17th is effective.
November 7 cases of group infection in indoor sports facilities, 580 patients appeared
Raising the issue of equity with the academy “Strong droplet emission characteristics, different risks”
A gym in downtown Seoul that has been discontinued due to measures to prevent new coronavirus infection (Corona 19). News 1
On the 5th, Son Young-rae, head of the Strategic Planning Division, Central Accident Control Headquarters, said at a briefing, “I regret and sincerely thank the indoor sports facility operators and workers who have suffered the great damage. Please” he said.
According to the authorities, there were 7 cases of group infections related to indoor sports facilities in November, with 583 patients in total. “Group infection has occurred in three gyms, table tennis, billiards, swimming pools, aerobics, etc.,” he said. “After the measures to strengthen the distance, no group infection has occurred in indoor sports facilities.”
He also explained that “the risk is different” when it was pointed out that the school was open on the premise of a limited number of people.
“Indoor sports facilities have the characteristic of strong discharge of droplets in closed facilities.” It is difficult to say that the quarantine risk is the same as that of the academy.”
He added, “It is difficult to directly compare Taekwondo (academy) as it allowed up to 9 people at the same time and only children and students to supplement the caring function.”
However, the authorities said that if the measures to reinforce the distance extended to the 17th are effective, they will consider the direction to allow business on the premise of compliance with quarantine rules.
Young-Rae Son, Head of Strategic Planning Division, Central Accident Control Division. yunhap news
Sohn said, “If effective results are achieved through intensive quarantine management for two weeks, we will seek opinions on quarantine rules with the goal of preventing infection as much as possible while allowing business rather than continuing to apply the collective ban.” He said, “It may be difficult, but I ask you to be patient for about 10 days and cooperate with the quarantine management.”
The authorities explained that the recent infection is mainly caused by personal contact. “The group infection itself has decreased a lot due to the distance,” said Son Young-rae. “The group infection in multi-use facilities including nursing homes at the end of November was around 48%, but decreased to within 30% at the end of December.” He said, “Multi-use facilities where group infections appear are also concentrated in churches, nursing hospitals, and detention centers.”
On the other hand, the rate of infection by contact with confirmed patients rose from around 40% at the end of November to 70% at the end of December. “It is analyzed that the spread of infection is currently driven by personal contact rather than multi-use facilities,” said Son Young-rae, and emphasized, “It is very important to keep minimizing personal contact.”
“If the efforts to keep distance until next Sunday are intensively deployed and the results are shown, there is a need to partially ease the ban on collective use for multi-use facilities,” said Son Young-rae, said.
Reporter Hwang Soo-yeon [email protected]