Korea’s new Covid-19 cases dropped to a two-digit number on Tuesday, but the authorities are still dealing with the aftermath of the sporadic outbreaks in large cities, including Seoul, Busan, and Daejeon.
The nation reported 84 new virus cases, including 53 local infections, raising the cumulative caseload rose to 24,889 as of midnight Tuesday, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. Imported cases also reached 31 on Wednesday, as the number of foreign cases stayed above the 30-mark for the second day in a row.
Four more people died of Covid-19, pushing the death toll to 438. The fatality rate reached 1.76 percent. An additional 167 people were released from quarantine, increasing the total to 23,030. The country has tested 2,441,454 people since Jan. 3.
The number of newly confirmed cases fell, but health officials remained on high alert because of unrelenting outbreaks from home and abroad.
As Wednesday’s report did not include the 52 cluster infections at a nursing hospital in Busan, officials expected that the number would resurge on Thursday.
Among the newly identified local infections, the greater Seoul area, including Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, reported 46 cases, the KDCA said. Outside of the capital area, Daejeon reported four cases, Busan, two cases, and South Chungcheong Province, one.
The quarantine authorities closely examined the effects of eased quarantine measures after lowering the social distancing scheme to Level One on Monday, as the daily number of new confirmed cases continues to seesaw around 100.
Under eased social distancing, high-risk facilities, such as clubs, karaoke rooms, bars and buffet restaurants, including those in the greater Seoul area, can operate normally. However, they must follow infection prevention measures, including having visitors wear masks and keeping entry logs.
Starting on Tuesday, people have to wear face masks on public transportation and at medical facilities and rallies. Violators can be fined up to 100,000 won ($87) from Nov. 13 after a month of the grace period.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun raised a voice of concern about lingering cluster infection, as the number of community spread rebounded on the third day of eased restrictions.
“New virus cases did not rise sharply. It is true, however, they have not dropped to a satisfactory level,” Chung said. “Group infections tied to the holiday season continued to occur from the gatherings of families and relatives, as well as at medical institutions.”
Based on the experiences of fighting against Covid-19 over the past nine months, the prime minister said that the virus could resurge at any time and would hit the nation again if it lowers guards even a little.
Chung cited as examples the mass infections originating at Itaewon clubs and religious meetings as well as large-scale rallies during the National Liberation Day.
“I am asking the public to recall that the second wave could come whenever we get careless, forcing the nation to pay an extremely high price. We should not repeat these trials and errors anymore,” Chung said. “Now is the moment to find out whether we can establish a sustainable quarantine system as part of our lives.”