From the anti-epidemic pattern to the risk of losing control of the epidemic
Earlier this year, Korea was seen as a model for the Covid-19 pandemic response. The extensive testing, tracing and quarantine, helped Korea stop the Covid-19 wave, even though it was very close to China, where the pandemic started and there was no need for a blockade.
The World Health Organization (WHO) praised South Korea’s efforts, and the government also quickly promoted the "Covid-19 diplomacy" campaign - supporting countries to deal with the pandemic and publishing details. Korean-style pandemic control measures.
However, eight months later, those early achievements have disappeared, Korea is now at risk of the uncontrollable spreading of Covid-19 pandemic due to consecutive outbreaks of epidemics and response measures. no longer working in the past.
On December 13, the Korea Agency for Disease Control and Prevention (KDCA) said that the country recorded a record 1,030 new cases a day. Health officials warn, with the current rate of spread, the number of Covid-19 cases in Korea could be up to 1,200 cases / day. People in the Seoul metropolitan area are subject to stricter prevention measures, while authorities work to determine the source of the infection, causing a spike in the number of Covid-19 cases in Seoul and surrounding areas.
Park Young-joo, a 78-year-old grandmother in Gyeonggi Province near Seoul, said she feels very worried. "I try to stay indoors as much as I can but I live with my nephew’s family, so I’m afraid I might still get sick. Everyone in the family is afraid I think because I’m tall." age and the risk of the disease is higher, "she said.
According to KDCA data, so far Korea has recorded a total of more than 44,000 Covid-19 cases, of which only 600 cases died. This is too small compared to the more than 56,000 deaths caused by Covid-19 in the UK - a country with the same population as South Korea. However, the Korean government warns that failure to prevent pandemic outbreaks may force them to raise their limited measures to prevent epidemics to level 3, the highest level. This measure will put Asia’s fifth largest economy in blockade for the first time since the pandemic broke out. Seoul officials ordered schools in the area to close on December 15 and increased the size of the test to 22,000 people a day from 16,000 a day in September. End-of-year parties are also banned.
Level 3 warning still allows essential workers to work, but prohibits activities with more than 10 people, public transport only serves up to 50% of the capacity.
Neglect, subjective
The premature relaxation of preventive measures could be the reason for Covid-19’s boom in Korea again. (Artwork: AP)
After nearly a year of complying with epidemic prevention measures such as wearing masks, implementing social distance, many Koreans began to have a subjective mentality, South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun warned on December 15. .
"While most people do not manage the inconveniences and strictly abide by the regulations, some people are making the virus spread dizzy due to their subjectivity and irresponsibility," said Mr. Chung at a yesterday government meeting. He emphasized that the level 3 restriction measures are only the last resort because it can cause irreversible damage to the domestic economy.
Korean officials discovered many cases of social segregation violations such as at churches or night entertainment establishments. In addition, family gatherings and friends are also the cause of more than 20% of new outbreaks discovered in Korea recently.
Some experts believe that the current situation is due to the Korean government’s decision to loosen prevention measures too soon.
"The Korean government has adjusted its policy since October and now they have to step up their response measures to a stronger pandemic," said Eom Joong-sik, infectious disease expert at Gachon University. , identify. He said that too soon loosening the epidemic control measures makes Covid-19 re-spread among communities and raises the risk of the epidemic spreading even further. Mr. Eom warned that the Seoul metropolitan area could quickly run out of beds for patients.
