The government said it would consider stronger quarantine measures if the spread of COVID-19 does not subside until next week. In the metropolitan area, the government judges that the current epidemic has reached a stagnant stage. However, there is no reversal in the downward trend, and the plan is to check whether the effect of the new 4th stage of distancing will become clear by next week.
At a regular briefing on the morning of the 28th, Sohn Young-rae, head of the social strategy division of the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Central Accident Remediation Headquarters, said, "It has been two weeks since the 4th phase of the metropolitan area was implemented, so we will review whether stronger quarantine measures are necessary while observing the effect of distance. will," he said.
Director Sohn explained, "I think the important issue is whether the quarantine response capability that combines the current social distancing system with epidemiological investigations and diagnostic tests can sufficiently catch up with the rapid spread of the delta mutation."
The government is implementing phase 4 in the metropolitan area and phase 3 in non-metropolitan areas with a deadline of August 8. If the epidemic does not break by this time, the government is in the position to analyze the characteristics of the epidemic and add customized quarantine measures. However, specific details have not yet been released.
Director Sohn explained, "If the spread of the epidemic cannot be prevented than expected, we will analyze its characteristics." "We will evaluate whether the control of private gatherings has been weakened or whether the infection route based on multi-use facilities has not been controlled." "We will review measures to strengthen weak areas in the evaluation process," he said.
First of all, the government is planning to do everything possible to prevent quarantine with the current distance system. "The metropolitan area has reached a stagnant state by blocking the increase in epidemics," said Sohn, "the most important goal for the next two weeks is whether or not it turns into a downward trend."
As of 00:00 on the same day, the number of confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) was 1,896, the highest number ever. Excluding imports from abroad, there were 1,823 cases in Korea, 1212 cases in the metropolitan area and 611 cases outside the metropolitan area. The daily average of local confirmed cases in the metropolitan area was 942.1, which has decreased after recording 1,000 as of 00:00 on July 20.
Regarding the cause of the current spread of COVID-19, Director Sohn said, "The biggest reason is that people are tired from the prolonged social distancing measures. He reiterated the need to participate.
Meanwhile, the government said that it had consulted with Moderna that the supply of the Moderna vaccine, which was scheduled to be supplied at the end of July, was delayed to August, and that it will be supplied first in next week and then will be supplied in August. “Yesterday (27th) evening, the Minister of Health and Welfare, Vice Chairman Moderna, and the person in charge of production had such a supply-related consultation,” said Sohn.
The government originally planned to use Moderna as a vaccine for the 55-59-year-olds, starting this week, but has replaced it with Pfizer's vaccine after Moderna's notice of a delay in supply.
Moderna is known to have had a problem in the manufacturing process in overseas consigned birth facilities, and this is causing supply disruptions not only in Korea but also in other foreign countries.
Director Sohn said, "It is difficult to disclose the detailed supply volume and schedule as we are under follow-up discussions such as whether they are subject to a confidentiality agreement and confirm the supply date." .
However, on the same day, Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, expressed regret that it could be a violation of the confidentiality agreement for the specific amount of supply.
CEO Song appeared on a radio broadcast on the morning of the same day, and related to the delay in the supply of moderna vaccines, "The original plan to receive 1.96 million doses, including 750,000 doses on the 25th and 1.21 million doses on the 31st, was postponed." He also said that "8.5 million doses are coming in as scheduled in August."
Director Young-rae Son said, "We are discussing whether or not (disclosure of detailed quantities) is subject to a confidentiality agreement."