Tougher antivirus measures unavoidable

The government has signaled that it will introduce additional antivirus measures on top of the toughest Level 4 social distancing regulations imposed on the Seoul metropolitan area, as these do not appear to have curtailed the rampant spread of COVID-19 over the past three weeks amid the fourth wave of the pandemic.

Some medical experts have said it will only be a matter of time for new daily cases to exceed 2,000, calling on the government to preemptively impose tougher measures, such as placing the entire country under the Level 4 rules.

New daily cases have remained above 1,000 since July 7 amid the ongoing fourth wave here.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 1,219 COVID-19 new infections for Sunday, including 1,150 local ones, raising the total caseload to 201,002.

The total caseload has surpassed 200,000, 560 days after the country reported its first COVID-19 case in January last year.

The health authorities and experts expect infections to continue to soar for the time being as the current outbreak has been led by the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus.

Currently, the greater Seoul metropolitan area, including Incheon and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province, is under the Level 4 rules — the highest in the nation’s four-tier social distancing system — while other parts of the nation are under Level 3.

As these rules expire Sunday, the authorities are discussing what else can be done to slow down infections.

“The government will have no choice but to consider even tougher antivirus measures if infections continue to surge,” Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said during a government meeting on COVID-19 responses, Sunday. “The existing measures have not had an effect on the recent rise in cases due to the spread of the Delta variant. If we fail to curb infections now, we will face a more serious crisis as the National Liberation Day holiday is approaching.”

Given that the government has already imposed tough rules on private gatherings, banning meetings of more than two people after 6 p.m., additional measures are expected to be placed on facilities such as restaurants, cafes and gyms.

The current 10 p.m. curfew on these facilities could be moved forward, and places subject to suspension of business could be expanded in addition to nightclubs and other entertainment venues.

It would not be an easy choice for the government though, as these measures, if imposed, could face a stronger backlash from owners who have already experienced financial difficulties amid the continued antivirus measures.

Experts say additional measures are unavoidable as continued infections could cause a shortage of hospital intensive care beds and medical workers.