1000 people confirmed on the second day … Government “three steps to stand trial next week”

◆ Emergence of reproliferation of the crown ◆

The spread of the infection is increasing, with the number of confirmed corona 19 cases exceeding 1,000 for two days in a row, but the government announced guidelines for “ 2.5 steps + α ” rather than increasing the distance by three steps. The Central Defense Response Headquarters announced that as of 0 o’clock on the day, the number of new confirmed corona 19 patients increased by 1014. This is the first time in Korea that the number of new confirmed cases has been recorded during Two consecutive days.

However, the government is in the position that there is no immediate third-level update. A senior government official said in the Maeil Economic Daily and the currency that it is not too late to see the trend until this week (the ratio of confirmed cases to the number of prosecutors, etc.) and judge next week (be it or not the third level).

Instead, the government decided to pull more reins from the quarantine network as a ‘2.5 steps + α’ countermeasure. In this sense, ‘Hold’em Pub’, who plays cards while drinking alcohol, was included in the group ban for 10 days from 19 to 28. The accommodation facilities and party halls of the metropolitan area were also requested to leave if more people entered the room.

[지홍구 기자 / 윤지원 기자]

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“Even us, the third stage” Even at the top of the local government … A government that “continues to resist” aesthetics

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Two days in a row 1,000 people were confirmed, but the distance was increased.

432 people are the most confirmed per day in Seoul
“There is no reason to hesitate in step 3”
Jae-Myung Lee “No more than 5 people allowed”
Review of the Gyeonggi-do Administrative Order

Government reinforced with 2.5 + α
“The quarantine control network is not yet collapsed”
The ‘Hold’em Pub’ game bar is also banned

On the 16th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, where the highest number of new confirmed cases was 432 after the Corona 19 outbreak, as well as the governors of Gyeonggi, Daegu, Daejeon and Jeollabuk-do, urged an early update on three stages away. Seoul Metropolitan Government Deputy Mayor Kim Woo-young appeared on a radio broadcast on the 17th and said, “If the weekly average exceeds 800 across the country, three steps can be implemented.” “There are several steps that can effectively block the spread of the infection by means of a strong blockade for two weeks. Countermeasures must be prepared,” he pressured the government. The city of Seoul is in the position that “there is no reason to hesitate to raise the third stage. “Not only the city of Seoul, but also the governor of Gyeonggi-do, Lee Jae-myeong, the mayor of Daegu, Kwon Young-jin, the governor of Jeonbuk-do, Song Ha-jin, and the mayor Daejeon chief Heo Tae-jung are also urging the government to take three steps. Gov. Lee Jae-myeong, who has lobbied the government to increase its “initial three-stage upgrade,” suggested establishing his own countermeasures. high intensity. On this day, Governor Lee said on his Facebook page that he was reviewing the issuance of an executive order recommending banning gatherings of five or more people. This is stronger than the three-step measure that prohibits. ” groups of 10 or more”. Governor Lee said, “To reduce the damage in a situation where asymptomatic infected people are spreading, the only way to reduce the damage is to minimize gatherings and strengthen distances.” We recommend the prohibition of private meetings. ”

Infectious disease experts also advise against delaying the upgrade to the third stage. Professor Chun Byeong-cheol from Korea University’s Department of Preventive Medicine said: “The government should have been quick to get on the stage in the early stages of the third outbreak, but it was practical.” I have to do it for that ”, he emphasized. Professor Chun said: “The biggest problem is that the government does not give a clear message at the moment,” he said. “If the government gives an appropriate message without being aesthetically pleasing, our people tend to follow suit.” Professor Lee Jae-gap from Hallym University Gangnam Sacred Heart Hospital said: “If you are going to move to the third level, it is important that you adapt strongly. Because there are many recent trends, I think it may be necessary to ban meetings with more than 5 people “.

Numerically, the three-step criteria for social distancing already suggested by quarantine authorities have been met. The standard for the implementation of the third stage is that the national average of confirmed cases per week is 800-1000 or more, or more than double the previous day in stage 2.5. Equipped. In addition, as of midnight on this day, 1,000 confirmed cases were added and the requirement of the third stage is still being met, but the government, concerned about the economic shock, still hesitates to lift the third stage. That is why the ‘2.5 + α’ countermeasures were introduced on this day, saying that they have not reached the state of loss of control of the quarantine network and the collapse of the medical system, which are the key conditions of the update of the 3rd stage. In addition to the existing 2.5 steps, a ban on operating Hold’em pubs on the 19th and 28th and a ban on eating in unstaffed cafes was added.

Regarding the upgrade of the third stage, Son Young-rae, head of the Strategic Planning Division of the Accident Control Headquarters, said: “There are two main conceptual criteria for judging the third stage: if the quarantine control network or if the capacity of the medical system has been exceeded. Looking at the question (key) `, it can be judged as a situation that still has enough space to support (the domestic situation)”. Rather, the government is in a position where the effect of increasing distance is gradually showing up. As a result of the analysis of mobile phone traffic since the middle of last month, the number of movements throughout the country last weekend (December 12-13) was 24,488,000 cases in the metropolitan area and 26,737,000 cases in the non-metropolitan area. This is 12% less than the previous weekend (December 5-6). Compared to 35.89 million cases at the weekend (November 14-15) just before the distance between the metropolitan area was updated to 1.5 steps, it decreased by 31.8%. “The weekend movement in the metropolitan area decreased by about 20% in the first and second weeks after increasing the distance, and the decrease stagnated in the third week, but again decreased dramatically at the end of last week” Son said. Regarding the reduction in the momentum, he said: “Compared to the time when the momentum in February and March was the lowest in Daegu and Gyeongbuk, the momentum has fallen the most last week.” said. “I hope to see this effect from the end of this week or next.”

The most fundamental reason the government is cautious when upgrading to stage three is that the damage to small business owners and others may increase. If you upgrade to the third stage, meetings and events with more than 10 people are prohibited, and it will stop the operation of most multipurpose facilities, such as movie theaters, computer cafes, amusement parks, beauty salons, large-scale stores, markets, and department stores. Since the operation of 20.2 million facilities nationwide is limited, the damage to small business owners and the self-employed can grow beyond repair.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Jeong Sye-gyun was concerned that the end of the year and New Year holidays were still ongoing despite the reappearance of Corona 19. Prime Minister Chung chaired a meeting of the Security Countermeasures Headquarters and Disasters at the Government Complex in Seoul this morning and said: “Large-scale meetings and events have decreased, but small-scale youth-focused meetings are on the rise, and there are no empty rooms in Gangwon-do or Jeju-do. He said: “It is a very deplorable appearance, as people are very aware of the number of confirmed cases every day and are working together to reverse the confirmation trend of the crown 19.”

[지홍구 기자 / 정슬기 기자 / 최현재 기자][ⓒ 매일경제 & mk.co.kr, 무단전재 및 재배포 금지]