The Central Defense Countermeasure Headquarters (Bang Dae-bon) announced that the number of new confirmed cases increased by 473 as of 0 o’clock on the day, accumulating 10,5752. The number of confirmed cases is not so small, considering that the number of tests on the previous day was 19,344 cases, which is less than half of the previous weekday, compared to the 2nd (4,992 cases). From the 29th of last month to this day, the number of new confirmed cases for the past week was 447 → 506 → 551 → 557 → 543 → 543 → 473 each day. The average number is 517 per day. By region, the metropolitan area, including 149 people in Seoul, 108 people in Gyeonggi, and 19 in Incheon, accounted for 61.5% of the total area occurrence.
Recently, as group infections have occurred in various places such as workplaces, churches, and entertainment bars, concerns about the fourth epidemic are rising.
Professor Jeong Jae-hoon of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Gachon University Gil Hospital said, “The average number of confirmed patients on the last 7 days was 500, and this is the first time since January 17, and considering that this is the time when the third epidemic declined, it has been 4 months since December 4 last year.” “The 4th epidemic is more inevitable than pessimistic prediction. It is difficult to implement social distancing measures with the same intensity, so it can appear at any time.” Professor Jeong Jae-hoon continued, “The overall quarantine measures such as social distancing are easing and citizens’ sense of crisis is also falling.” “There is no reason for the number of confirmed cases to decrease for the time being due to the loosening of restrictions,” he predicted.
Amidst this, an adjustment plan for’social distancing’, which will be applied from next week, will be announced on the 9th. “The number of confirmed cases has been increasing since last week,” said Yoon Tae-ho, head of quarantine prevention at the Central Accident Control Headquarters. It is difficult to conclude and say,” he said. Currently, the 2nd step of distance is being applied to the metropolitan area and the 1.5th step is being applied to the non-metropolitan area. In addition to distancing, there is also a ban on meetings of five or more people nationwide, and the government will also announce related information.
On the other hand, in the future, fines will be imposed for violating the’basic quarantine rules’. The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (middle script) will impose a fine of 3 million won on the owner and 100,000 won or less on the user if violated from that day as the guiding period of the basic quarantine rules in effect from the 29th of last month ends the day before. There are a total of 33 facilities to which the basic quarantine rules are applied, including a collate, ballroom, singing practice room, PC room, and academy.
[이병문 의료선임기자]
[ⓒ 매일경제 & mk.co.kr, 무단전재 및 재배포 금지]