On Halloween Day, when the government’s step-by-step daily recovery measures, so-called ‘with Corona’, were just around the corner, many citizens took to the streets and the effective social distancing was still ineffective. Netizens who watched the media reports on the Halloween festival site raised concerns about the further spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).
According to the Central Quarantine Countermeasures Headquarters on the 31st, there were 2,061 new confirmed cases of Corona 19 as of 00:00 on the same day, the fourth consecutive day since the 28th. While the number of confirmed cases has not decreased since the fourth pandemic that began in July, various events are held on Halloween Day, raising concerns about additional confirmed cases due to an increase in floating population.
In fact, a day before Halloween Day on the 30th, a large number of citizens flocked to the nightlife districts such as Itaewon, Seoul. The government and local governments established special quarantine measures in advance and started cracking down, but they could not stop the influx of citizens.
As a large number of citizens flocked to the narrow streets, it was difficult to keep the distance and had to move through the streets as if they were being pushed by each other. There was also a scene where dozens of citizens lined up in front of the bar. In particular, some citizens did not follow basic quarantine rules, such as wearing a mask or drinking on the street. (Related article: Is Itaewon already with Corona? Even before the day, there were a series of cases where quarantine rules were not followed even though a large number of people had gathered in major entertainment districts in Seoul. As a result of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s intensive crackdown on clubs and restaurants in Seoul ahead of Halloween, 272 business owners, employees, and guests were caught on charges of violating the Infectious Disease Prevention Act or the Food Sanitation Act and the Music Industry Promotion Act. Netizens who watched this Halloween day scene through media reports, etc., expressed their pity when they were refraining from gatherings with people. Netizens who commented on the article posted on the online portal showed reactions such as “I’m afraid that the 5th pandemic from Itaewon will start” and “The struggling medical staff doesn’t think about it.”
In particular, netizens were concerned that “Halloween is not the only problem,” and that if the government’s quarantine measures are eased from the 1st, many people who have endured going out will flock to the entertainment district and the quarantine system may collapse.
In fact, social distancing is expected to be greatly eased with the gradual recovery of daily life, which will be implemented from the 1st of next month. In the metropolitan area, up to 10 people can gather, and in the non-metropolitan area, up to 12 people can gather, and as business hours restrictions on livelihood facilities are removed, business restrictions on restaurants and cafes are lifted, making it possible to operate 24 hours a day.
For those who have not been vaccinated, there is still a restriction on the use of gatherings and multi-use facilities.
Of course, the government, which had been expecting an increase in the number of confirmed cases due to the easing of quarantine measures, is improving the medical system in preparation for the increase in the number of confirmed cases to 10,000. In addition, when the number of confirmed patients soars sharply and the intensive care unit operation rate rises, the With Corona policy will be suspended and an emergency plan will be implemented.
Uncertainty remains despite the government’s plans for countermeasures. First, there are still more than 5 million people who have not been vaccinated. Although the government has promised to provide incentives to those who have completed the vaccination, there are still some who refuse to receive the vaccination due to concerns about side effects.
Although the number of people who completed vaccination exceeded 70% of the total population, it is also a problem that even those who completed vaccination are not free from infection. Breakthrough infection cases in which those who have recently completed the vaccination become infected are steadily occurring. Recently, at a nursing home in Gyeongnam, there was a case where about 100 patients and workers who had completed the vaccination were infected.
In addition, there is a problem that the effectiveness of the vaccine to block infection gradually decreases as time passes after completion of inoculation. Accordingly, the government plans to promote collective immunity by expanding booster shots.
Regarding this situation, Director Jung Eun-kyung of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said at a briefing on the 29th, “The current quarantine situation is safe, so we are not promoting daily recovery. did. This confirms once again that easing quarantine measures does not mean unleashing all reins.
Experts also appealed for compliance with quarantine rules. In its recommendation on the 29th, the Korean Medical Association’s Special Committee on COVID-19 Countermeasures said, “It is time to come up with a step-by-step recovery policy that takes into account the overall situation in society, but once again reiterating that the prerequisite for this is the observance of quarantine rules by individuals and communities. He said, “We still need to be vigilant to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
(Seoul = News 1)
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