Resurgence in infections puts authorities on alert ahead of 'Living with COVID-19'

People wait in a long line for COVID-19 tests at a temporary testing center in front of Seoul Station, Thursday. Yonhap

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By Jun Ji-hye

Health authorities are staying vigilant over the resurgence of COVID-19 infections ahead of the government's planned shift to the "Living with COVID-19" phase next Monday.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), Thursday, the country added 2,111 new virus cases on Wednesday.

It is the first time in 20 days that the daily new infections have surpassed the 2,000 mark.

Amid continuous reports of cluster infections across the country, the daily caseloads increased from 1,190 on Sunday to 1,265 on Monday to on 1,952 on Tuesday.

"Infections, which showed a decreasing trend over the past three weeks, have begun to increase again this week," said Sohn Young-rae, a spokesman for the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

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The health authorities attributed the recent resurgence of infections to eased social distancing restrictions that took effect on Oct. 18 as a bridge for the policy shift aimed at achieving a phased return to "normal life."

Under the eased rules, the ceiling on private gatherings was raised up to eight people in the Seoul metropolitan area, if four of them are fully vaccinated. In other regions, a maximum of 10 people, including six fully vaccinated, are allowed to gather.

Business hours for some multiuse facilities, such as study rooms and movie theaters, have been extended to midnight from 10 p.m. in the Seoul metropolitan area, and for restaurants and cafes in other parts of the country.

Tourists in protective suits head toward a departure gate at Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport, Thursday. Yonhap

Kim Woo-joo, a professor of infectious diseases at Korea University Guro Hospital, pointed out that news about the government's plans to ease distancing measures further for the policy shift seem to have made people feel a sense of freedom from the rules that have lasted for more than a year.

"In addition, as the weather is becoming colder, more people are staying indoors, where ventilation is poorer compared to outdoors," he said. "The country's vaccination program has gained speed, but efficacy of vaccines for those who received shots in the first half of the year may have been reduced, leading to increasing breakthrough infections."

The health authorities are bracing for a further increase in the daily caseload, warning that Halloween celebrations this weekend, during which time popular nightlife areas such as Itaewon and Gangnam are expected to be crowded with partygoers, could serve as the catalyst for massive infections.

"We will carry out special checks on bars, pubs and other entertainment facilities, as well as areas where many foreign residents gather, to make sure they are complying with antivirus measures," an official from the Central Disease Control Headquarters said.

Meanwhile, the government announced its decision, also Thursday, to provide booster shots for vaccinated people in their 50s, those with underlying diseases, people who have received the Johnson & Johnson single-dose COVID-19 vaccine and "essential workers" such as police and firefighters, beginning from November.

Currently, booster shots are offered only to high-risk groups including those over the age of 60 and medical workers at hospitals specially designated to treat COVID-19 patients.

In general, mRNA vaccines such as Pfizer and Moderna will be offered as booster shots even for those who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. But these people can still choose to receive the Johnson & Johnson shot.

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