Self-employed people who expected to resume business after 9 PM while the government extended the social distancing step to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19) by two weeks, voiced criticism that “the government does not know the reality.” The photo shows a restaurant in downtown Seoul on the afternoon of the 18th. News 1
– While the number of new coronavirus infections (Corona 19) continues to decline gradually, the government is preventing social distancing (Seoul Metropolitan Area 2.5th Stage, Non-Metropolitan Area 2nd Stage), banning private gatherings with more than 5 people, and banning business at 9pm. They are contemplating whether to extend the measure. If the quarantine measures are maintained as they are, it will be difficult to visit their hometown during the Lunar New Year holidays starting on February 11th.
The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters is expected to hold a meeting in the morning of the 30th and decide whether to adjust social distancing and special quarantine measures for the New Year. The Chinese script announced on the 16th that the quarantine measures, which began as special quarantine measures during the year-end and New Year holidays, will be extended for two weeks until the 31st of this month. According to the ‘Guidelines for Life Prevention for New Year’s Holidays’ that the script published on the day, in principle, private meetings with five or more people are prohibited even during the Lunar New Year holidays. According to this, if a family of four, consisting of two parents and two children, visits their hometown and meets their elderly parents, it could be a violation of the’ban of five’ measures. However, there was a clue that “when visiting your hometown or relatives, always wear a mask, stay short, and thoroughly observe personal hygiene such as washing your hands.”
The authorities are discussing various possibilities, such as a plan to keep banning meetings with more than 5 people until February 14, but only allowing family gatherings during the Lunar New Year holidays. An official from the quarantine authorities said, “From the perspective of quarantine, the ban on meetings with more than 5 people should be maintained until the Lunar New Year holiday.” “With the winter season still more than a month left, the operation of cafes and indoor sports facilities should be eased, and the ban on meetings of five people. If the ban on business at 9 pm is lifted, there is a possibility that the fourth fashion will explode starting from the Lunar New Year holiday.” The official added, “The local government is struggling because there are many requests to take some measures because there are parts for holiday hometown visits as well.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of new corona19 patients was 392 as of 0 o’clock on the 24th, and the cumulative confirmed number was 75,084. Among the new patients, 369 cases were domestic and 23 were imported from overseas.
The third epidemic of Corona 19 in Korea, which started in November of last year, peaked at 1,240 on December 25, last year, Christmas Day. The number of new confirmed cases a day continues to remain in the 1000 range, but has been gradually decreasing recently. At one time, more than 1,000 confirmed cases occurred every day, but the number of confirmed cases per day for the last week (18-24 days) decreased to 300-400 from 389 → 386 → 404 → 400 → 346 → 431 → 392.
According to the current social distancing standards, the nation can be upgraded to two stages when the situation where the number of new daily confirmed cases exceeds 300 nationwide continues for more than a week and the outbreak is on the rise. Step 2.5 can be applied if the number of confirmed cases rapidly increases, such as if the number of confirmed cases in Korea increases rapidly, such as the number of confirmed cases in Korea that are more than 400-500 on average per day for a week, or if the number of confirmed cases increases rapidly, such as doubling the number of confirmed cases per day in the second stage of the country.
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After it is known that the corona 19 mutant virus spread from the UK has also flowed into Korea, officials are conducting quarantine at Incheon International Airport Terminal 1. Newsis
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Currently, the average of 393 confirmed cases per week is at the boundary between stage 2 and stage 2.5. Other indicators, such as the infection reproductive index, should also be taken into consideration, but considering the size of the confirmed cases alone, it is possible to lower the distance by two steps. Minister of Health and Welfare Kwon Deok-cheol said in a briefing held on the 16th, “If the average number of confirmed cases per day reaches 400, we plan to evaluate the risk and consider downgrading the level of the metropolitan area.” However, the characteristics of the winter season, where there is a lot of indoor activity, and the unfavorable overseas situation, such as the outbreak of a mutant virus, which is known to have a higher transmission power in the UK and South Africa, are variables.
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While quarantine measures for multi-use facilities such as cafes, gyms, and karaoke have been partially eased, the owners of entertainment establishments subject to business bans such as Gamseong bars and Collatec, and those subject to business hours restrictions in industries with many night customers protested that they were not in fairness. A place to do is emerging. On the afternoon of the 19th, on the streets of Itaewon, Seoul, merchants are hanging up banners while protesting government policies such as restricting business operations until 9 o’clock. yunhap news
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Reporter Lee Tae-yoon [email protected]
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