South Korea that has been praised for the successful containment of COVID-19 on Thursday announced to re-impose stricter COVID-19 prevention measures after the number of new coronavirus cases spiked the most in nearly two months.

In a briefing in Sejong government complex on Thursday, Park Neung-hoo, health and welfare minister and first deputy director of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said the government has decided to re-implement some of stricter quarantine measures in Seoul and surrounding areas for two weeks from May 29 to June 14.

The government’s decision comes after the number of new COVID-19 cases in the country increased by 79 on Thursday, marking the biggest jump in 53 days following a cluster of infections linked to logistics center run by e-commerce firms Coupang and Market Kurly. It was the first time Korea has reported new cases above 70 since 81 on April 5.

The enhanced measures also were announced only three weeks after the country on May 6 shifted from the months-long strict “social distancing” rules to a more relaxed “everyday life quarantine.” The government earlier said the number of new daily cases should be fewer than 50 to maintain the laxed virus prevention policy.

Health minister on Thursday noted that the next one to two weeks would be crucial in slowing the spread of COVID-19 in the capital area given the incubation period of the virus. The risk is high for a spike in new infection cases linked to Coupang’s fulfillment center in Bucheon, he added.

On top of the clusters of infections linked to e-commerce logistics centers, new infections linked to Itaewon, a multicultural neighborhood in central Seoul, have continued to grow after a young man who was tested positive visited many bars and clubs in the area.

Under stricter measures, the government has decided to close down all public and multi-use facilities in the capital area, such as training institutes, art galleries, museums, parks, and public theaters. It also advised cancellation or postponing of events in the capital area.

The government additionally requested public institutions to allow its employees to work in more flexible working environment, including working from home, to prevent new clusters of infections. Entertainment facilities and Internet cafes in the capital area are advised to temporarily shut down and, if not, follow stricter quarantine measures.

Seoul residents have also been advised to avoid social gatherings or going to crowded places, including restaurants and bars.

Despite the spike in new cases, the government, however, has not retracted its decision to allow schools to reopen in phases.

But some health experts raise concerns over the government’s latest actions, advising the country return to fully-enforced social distancing rules to prevent the second wave of infections. They noted that the latest cases are largely linked to those working at e-commerce fulfillment centers with their delivery zones covering the whole country, making it hard to track the transmission routes for new infections.

By Kim Yeon-joo and Lee Eun-joo

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]