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| People stand in a long line to take a virus test at a screening center outside the National Medical Center in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap |
Controversy rises over belated virus restrict
By Bahk Eun-ji
The health authorities warned Monday that the country could see nearly 1,000 daily new cases of COVID-19 next week if the current pace of spread cannot be slowed down.
The warning came after the daily infections reached 615 for Sunday, showing the current social distancing rules have not worked and thus bringing calls to raise the level further.
"According to predictions by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) and various expert groups, we expect 550 to 750 new patients every day this week," said Ra Sung-woong, deputy director of the KDCA, in a regular press briefing at the agency building in Osong, North Chungcheong Province. "We believe that there is a possibility of more than 900 patients every day next week if the current situation continues."
Ra said the country is in the biggest crisis since the first virus patient was reported in the country in January, and the current trend is not temporary or concentrated in a specific region, but spreading nationwide.
"If social distancing is not properly kept, we'll have more than 1,000 new patients a day," Ra said. "If the trend is not curbed by the pause, the fast growing infections in Seoul and the metropolitan area could expand to all parts of the country. Then we'll have no choice but to take the last step left ― completely restricting all social activities."
According to the KDCA, among the 615 new infections, 580 were local cases, and the total caseload has reached 38,161. Sunday was the second consecutive day for the country's daily new virus cases to surpass 600.
Among the locally transmitted cases, 231 were reported in Seoul, 154 in Gyeonggi Province and 37 in Incheon. Four additional deaths were reported, raising the total death toll to 549, with a fatality rate of 1.44 percent.
While the government decided to impose stricter social distancing regulations under the second-strongest tier for the greater Seoul area starting Tuesday, residents and infectious disease experts showed mixed responses over effectiveness of the quarantine measures.
The Level 2.5 distancing measures, which will be applied to the Seoul metropolitan area, are aimed at discouraging people from having year-end gatherings, to contain the virus spread. But many said the restrictions shuttering most establishments and shops at 9 p.m. will only create adverse effects.
"People are thinking of gathering before 9 p.m., rather than not meeting at all because stores and bars closes at 9 p.m. We need to raise awareness over the virus spreading further than now," said Ki Mo-ran, a professor of the graduate school of cancer science and policy at the National Cancer Center.
Some even point out that the vicious infection circle should be cut off even if extreme measures are imposed, such as upgrading the distancing level to 3 in the capital region or imposing the same level of anti-virus measures nationwide.
"If the Level 2.5 is imposed in the metropolitan area, it should be imposed in other areas, too. Otherwise, balloon effects will occur, such as people meeting and gathering in provincial areas to avoid the restrictions in Seoul," said Jacob Lee, a professor at Hallym University's Gangnam Sacred Heart Hospital.
Residents also showed skeptical reactions to the government's move.
Kim Young-hwan, a 38-year-old office worker living in Nowon District, said more people could crowd into shops and restaurants before 9 p.m. due to the time limits.
"When I dropped by a supermarket in my neighborhood at around 8 p.m. Sunday to buy some snacks, I saw a lot of people lined up in front of a fried chicken corner inside the market," Kim said. "I've never seen customers flock to a chicken corner like that, and I don't know if it's just a reverse effect of attracting more customers within the limited business hours."
People studying at study cafes or reading rooms are being inconvenienced as the facilities should also close at 9 p.m.
"Many people like me will take buses or subways around 9 p.m. to go home and it will be difficult to keep a distance from other passengers," said a 27-year-old who wished to be identified only by her surname Park.
A 41-year-old office worker living in Yangcheon District in Seoul, surname Sohn said, "It's not that we don't work overtime just because the government imposed restrictions. We just have meetings and have dinner earlier than usual. I don't think the policy will work well."
