Korea raises guard against COVID-19 before Chuseok
The domestic terminal of Gimpo International Airport is crowded by tourists, Sunday, ahead of the five-day Chuseok long weekend that starts Wednesday. Health authorities are bracing for a possible surge of COVID-19 infections during the holiday period as many movements of people across the nation are expected. / Yonhap
By Jun Ji-hye
The government is striving to prevent the upcoming Chuseok holiday from causing another COVID-19 outbreak, urging citizens to comply with anti-virus guidelines to stem the virus spread during the five-day holiday that starts Wednesday.
Health authorities said the holiday period may become a critical juncture in determining whether the country will experience yet another round of outbreaks or not, noting that they are staying vigilant over the possibility of additional virus patients emerging.
The number of new daily virus cases here has been tallied at around 100 for about a week amid continued sporadic group infections at offices, nursing homes and daycare centers in Seoul and its surrounding areas.
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), the nation added 95 more COVID-19 cases, including 73 locally transmitted infections, for Saturday, raising the total caseload to 23,611.
The number of daily coronavirus cases stayed below 100 for the second consecutive day, but concerns remain as untraceable infections have continued to rise.
Among 1,461 new infections that have emerged from Sept. 13 to Friday, transmission routes of 359 patients, or 24.6 percent, have yet to be identified, meaning that there could be many people unaware of their infected status and yet to be diagnosed, according to the KDCA.
In bracing for a possible spike in the number of COVID-19 infections during the Chuseok long weekend, the government designated the two weeks starting Monday as a “special period” for strong nationwide anti-virus efforts, asking people to refrain from visiting their hometowns or places where many traditionally gather during the holiday.
During this special period, the government will maintain Level 2 social distancing measures that ban indoor meetings involving 50 people or more and outdoor meetings involving 100 people or more.
The government adopted a three-tier social distancing plan on June 28.
Level 2 guidelines also call on all sporting events to be played without spectators.
“We have drawn up a set of social distancing guidelines for upcoming holidays to stem the nationwide spread of the coronavirus,” Second Vice Health Minister Kang Do-tae said in a government response meeting. “We ask citizens to cooperate in the government efforts.”
Amid growing concerns over mass rallies planned by some conservative groups on Oct. 3, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun vowed to fully exercise the government authority as permitted by law to completely block illegal rallies, stressing that such rallies threaten the safety of the people amid the public health crisis.
“The government will enforce a zero-tolerance policy by arresting illegal protesters at the scene and suspend driver's licenses of those who participate in a car parade,” Chung said, Sunday. “Even now, it is not too late for conservative groups to withdraw their plans to hold rallies.”
For its part, the Seoul Metropolitan Government also announced a decision, Sunday, to designate the two weeks starting Monday as a special period for strong anti-virus efforts in the capital, saying the city government will also maintain the Level 2 social distancing guidelines.
The city said it will continue to restrict access to the more crowded areas of Han River parks including Yeouido Hangang Park during the period, and will carry out on-the-spot inspections into traditional markets, department stores, supermarkets, bus terminals and logistics centers to see if they are complying with the anti-virus guidelines.
Officials on Jeju Island are also bracing for a possible surge of virus infections on the resort island as about 300,000 tourists are expected to visit there during the long weekend.
Jeju Special Self-Governing Province drew up strict anti-virus guidelines that took effect Saturday, calling for tourists to wear face masks during their visit. If they experience symptoms associated with COVID-19 such as a fever, they should stop traveling and consult a local doctor, Jeju officials said.