SOUTH KOREAN COVID CASES SURGE
SOUTH KOREAN COVID CASES SURGE
Embedded Files
Once considered one of the few countries with negligible COVID-19 infections, South Korea has been forced to apply new restrictions as cases have surged
Throughout the pandemic, certain countries have been touted as examples of proper and effective COVID-19 response. People have pointed at countries such as New Zealand, Australia, and Taiwan as role models for pandemic control. But at least one country once on this list has slipped- South Korea, which previously experienced few positive cases, started reporting at least 500 new cases daily as of December. They have since passed their previous record for highest number of daily cases with over 1,000 cases in one day.
South Korea and their fifty million citizens dealt with the pandemic differently than most countries. They never went into lockdown, instead relying on intensive testing and mask policies. This tactic seemed to work well for them, perhaps because their mainland border was already on military lockdown due to tensions with neighboring North Korea. However, as COVID-19 cases resurged all over the world, South Koreans began experiencing difficulties controlling COVID-19 infection in their country.
The country has not linked the cases to one specific outbreak or event, believing colder weather and increase in travel to be the root cause of the spikes. While these surges are being reflected across the globe, South Korea is a unique place in which to study the spread of COVID-19 due to the country's lack of a lockdown as well as their extremely powerful contact-tracing measures. The country has spared no effort to find every single case of COVID and to deter the virus's spread with contact tracing. They have a large taskforce calling people and testing for COVID-19 around the clock. Their contact tracing system is extremely effective because of the amount of resources and effort put in, as well as extensive cooperation from the citizens. The workers make around 20 calls and look at hours of camera footage per case.
On December 12th, South Korea released the results of their contact-tracing and intensive testing measures, showing that in one day, there were 1,030 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19. The day before had 950 cases, and the day after around 720. Their previous daily case record was recorded on March 3rd with 851 cases. This December surge in cases has prompted renewed COVID-19 restrictions in the country.
The South Korean government has ordered schools to close in the capital city, Seoul, and the towns around it. These schools will not return with in-person classes until at least the end of the month, likely longer if cases continue to surge. But it doesn't just end at schools; South Korea is considering entering a total lockdown in which only essential workers can report to work. As of now, they have set a nightly curfew for restaurants all over the country in an effort to curb the climbing cases.
But the figure that truly demonstrates the magnitude of the situation isn't just positive tests- it's hospital bed capacity. With only a few hundred daily cases, South Korean hospitals were at 60% capacity. Now that they have almost a thousand new cases every day, they will have to make tough decisions, picking and choosing which patients need their care more. In an attempt to manage this massive influx of COVID-19 patients, the country has opened three new centers to provide intensive hospital care. But unless the rate of COVID-19 diagnoses slows- and soon- the new centers won't be enough to quell the rising tide.
One of the main issues with South Korea’s long-term COVID-19 control is the lack of a vaccine. Other countries preordered the vaccines months in advance, but South Korea is only now trying to cut deals with vaccine developers. They are currently trying to make a deal with Astrazeneca, but because it is so late, there may not be enough for the whole country.
South Korea’s most notorious neighbor has come up with an astounding number of daily COVID-19 cases: 0. In fact, North Korea claims to have no cases at all. According to North Korean officials, there are zero confirmed cases of COVID-19, but the world isn’t buying it.
Some South Korean officials have openly aired their doubt of North Korea's case data. In fact, one South Korean official, Kang Kyung-wha, released a statement explicitly doubting the validity of their numbers. Tensions between the two countries have been high ever since major border issues developed in the beginning of the year, and the pandemic has certainly not subdued their strained relationship.
Regardless, South Korea hopes to massively decrease their daily cases by decreasing close contact among individuals. Their efforts appeared to be working on December 13th, when the number of daily cases decreased to 720, but the infections have only accelerated since. In one week, they had 3 days with over 1,000 cases a day. But while South Korea’s newest safety measures are extensive, only time will tell how effective they are in controlling the surge.
This is Alicia's second year at Edgewood and first year on the Edge staff. She loves writing, debating, and bettering Brevard. She hopes to educate and entertain the members of her community.
Page updated
Report abuse