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(Fight against new coronary pneumonia) Global war epidemic: South Korea slowly “restarts” normal life
China News Agency, Seoul, May 10 Question: Global war epidemic: South Korea slowly “restarts” normal life to pick up infections and then rings
China News Agency reporter Zeng Nai
On Sunday the 10th, the tents spread out along the banks of the Han River in Seoul; while in Itaewon, a few kilometers away, the bars along the street were sealed.
This is the first weekend after South Korea has entered the “life prevention and epidemic prevention stage”, and the number of people in the picturesque places in Seoul has increased. However, the collective infection in the Itaewon bar has spread and more than 50 people have been diagnosed. South Korea faces new challenges of epidemic prevention and life in parallel.
On the afternoon of that day, there was a lot of laughter in the Han River Park, and under the “Meet the Epidemic Prevention Guidelines” bulletin board, the children chased and frolicked. The nearby cafeteria was crowded, and people were laughing and talking.
Such a scene has been rare for months. Since the outbreak in South Korea in mid-February this year, officials have taken steps to maintain social distance and have banned large gatherings. As the epidemic slowed, South Korea moved from the “period of remote social observation” to the “stage of prevention of life epidemics” this week: many previously closed public institutions are open, and the school will open for stages next week.
The Korean Central Ministry’s epidemic prevention countermeasures minister, Kwon Yu-kyu, said this measure is to allow people to resume their normal lives under the epidemic prevention rules and “restart” the economy.
The epidemic has hit South Korea’s export-oriented economy, and employment and consumer markets have a bright red light. Data shows that South Korea’s GDP in the first quarter of this year showed negative month-to-month growth, and the trade deficit for the first time in April was more than eight years later. The South Korean government held five emergency economic conferences, submitted two supplemental budgets to Congress, established a 40 trillion won fund to support pillar businesses, and provided cash grants for low-income and small and medium-sized businesses.
Business is slowly recovering. Journalists have visited many popular business districts, such as Myeongdong and Yishandong, for several days. Restaurants and shops have basically returned to normal business. Individual brand stores have even taken steps to restrict traffic. People were queuing at the door.
On May 8, the Korea Professional Football League (K League) was unveiled, which was postponed for more than two months. Although there is no live audience at the beginning of the “empty field”, public opinion believes that “this is an important signal to restart sports activities.” At the same time, 24 national art galleries and museums were reopened on the basis of the appointment system, and 12 public theaters and art companies resumed their performances. South Korean group Xijie Group and entertainment company Lotte Group also announced that they will resume the release of some of the new movies that were previously withdrawn.
On May 8 local time, the South Korean K-League was restarted and the in-game audience was empty.
But the added infection still causes South Korea to “tighten the nerves.”
A 29-year-old patient visited many entertainment venues in Itaewon, Seoul, and caused a collective infection. The Seoul Metropolitan Government has requested that all entertainment venues in the city be closed. A journalist visited Itaewon on the 10th and found that the bars in question were closed and that the nearby convenience stores and restaurants were mostly closed. The bars and clubs on the street had “closure notices”.
Itaewon is the famous “Night City” of Seoul. Due to its proximity to the US Army Longshan Base. USA In South Korea, it has a strong English atmosphere and is one of the main gathering areas for foreigners in South Korea. According to statistics from 10, the diagnosed patients included many foreigners and soldiers.
Public opinion is concerned that this will trigger a super spread in the metropolitan area where more than 24 million people live. South Korea’s epidemic prevention department said more than 1,500 people have visited the bar in question, 70% of staff cannot be tracked at the moment, and the number of infected people is expected to increase.
On the same day, South Korean President Wen Jae-yin said the massive infection in entertainment venues sounded again, even if the epidemic situation stabilizes, a similar situation can occur at any time in confined spaces.
“Never give up on epidemic prevention awareness to the end, but it doesn’t have to be daunting.” He said the current economy faces the worst negative growth since the “Great Depression,” “when it bottoms out and ends, no one knows.”
Wen Zaiyin said that epidemic prevention is the fulcrum of the economy and that epidemic prevention alone cannot solve the livelihood problem. It will seize the opportunity to “become the epidemic prevention stage of life” as an opportunity to boost economic vitality, but it should not freeze. “We must be prepared to fight the ‘protracted war’.” (The end)
