At the Crossroads of a Potential Fourth Wave and Herd Immunity: Cases Surge in Both Greater Seoul and Non-Greater Seoul

- Mask mandates and standard infection prevention/control codes must be followed, social gatherings should be cancelled, and those showing symptoms need to get tested immediately
- Vaccination rollout to hit stride in April, avoiding disruptions caused by cluster outbreaks is key to acquiring herd immunity
- Sharing best practices from Buk-gu and Haeundae-gu municipalities of Busan, the Buk-gu municipality of Ulsan, and the city of Geoje in Gyeongsangnam-do.

□ The members of Korea’s COVID-19 government response team, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) headed by Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, met today (April 4th (Sun)) in the Video Conference Room of the Government Complex Seoul. In the meeting which was presided over by the Prime Minister, CDSCH reviewed the latest updates on the nation’s COVID-19 response including best practice cases from regional municipalities, and the Special Infection Prevention/Control Measures for the Gyeongsangnam-do region. The meeting was attended by representatives from each department of the central government, 17 metropolitan governments, the municipalities of Busan (16 districts/counties), Ulsan (5 districts/counties), and the province of Gyeongsangnam-do (18 cities/counties).

□ Over the course of three weeks beginning on March 16th, (Tue), the CDSCH has been receiving updates and recommendations from municipality heads of the local governments.

 ○ Today (April 4th, (Sun)), is the final briefing session where the municipality heads from Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongsangnam-do presented the regions’ infection control/prevention strategies and best practices.

 ○ During the meeting it was noted that Busan and Gyeonsangnam-do have seen the greatest number of cases after Greater Seoul, in the wake of recent cases particularly centered around entertainment facilities, public baths, and workplaces.

 ○ It was emphasized that the proactive action of the civil servants at the municipality levels to prevent and control the disease is more important than ever during these critical times.

   - The CDSCH requested the representatives to speak freely about recommendations and additional support that might be needed based on the experiences from the field.

□ The CDSCH explained that after a week’s transition period that had provided guidance regarding the upcoming changes, compliance to standard infection prevention/control codes will be mandatory beginning April 5th (Mon).

 ○ The thorough implementation of these codes will be the prerequisite for the success of the various infection prevention/control strategies of the local governments that are being delivered with the full force of the local governments behind them.

   - CDSCH noted the difficulty in maintaining a high level of vigilance in the face of prolonged lockdown, but also reminded all present that it is precisely at this moment that fundamentals have to be revisited and reinforced.

 ○ The CDSCH delivered a strong message to all at the meeting that each local government must return to the basic principles of infection prevention/control and go over its site inspection strategies with a fine-tooth comb.

   - All present at the meeting were reminded that when dedication is rekindled and efforts are thus aligned, the following week could be a watershed week where the nation could turn the trends around in fighting COVID-19.

1. LATEST UPDATES ON INFECTION PREVENTION/CONTROL MEASURES AND RISK ASSESSMENTS

□ Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) conducts weekly examinations of the nation’s overall COVID-19 response strategies by reviewing the updated infection prevention/control situation and the risk factors for each week.

□ The average daily number of new cases reported for the week of March 28th – April 3rd was 477.3, 55.7 more cases per day in comparison to the 421.6 cases reported for the previous week of March 21st – 27th.
 
 ○ The number of new daily cases for the age group of 60 years or older was 119.0, which is 18.1 cases more daily when compared to the previous week of March 21st – 27th (100.9 cases/week).

< Latest Week-by-Week Comparison of Infection Prevention/Control >

 

		03.7-03.13	03.14-03.20	03.21-03.27	03.28-04.03
Daily New Cases (Local Outbreaks, Headcount)		428.2	414.7	421.6	477.3
	≥60 years old	113.9	99.4	100.9	119.0
Daily New Cases (Imported Cases, Headcount)		17.7	17.4	17.0	18.1
Cluster Outbreaks1) (New Reports, Case count)		49	58	44	30
Chain of transmission investigation underway		21.8%	25.8%	23.9%	28.3% (982/3,468)
Under observation within the infection control/prevention system2)		41.4%	40.0%	41.1%	38.7%
Immediately available ICU beds		604 (As of 03.13, 21:00)	611 (As of 03.13, 21:00)	620 (As of 03.27, 21:00)	622 (As of 04.02, 21:00)

 

  1) Cluster outbreak numbers compiled according to the date the case is reported to authorities. (New case numbers and chain of transmission investigation percentage compiled as of CDSCH reporting date.)
 2) Under observation within the infection control/prevention system: The number of people who were in self-isolation when they were confirmed as new cases.
   ※ Numbers open to updates based on continuing investigations.

 ○ The average number of daily new cases for Greater Seoul during the week of March 28th to April 3rd was 303.9 cases, which is an increase from last week. The figure was 173.4 cases for Non-Greater Seoul.

< Regional Updates on Infection Prevention/Control (03.28 – 04.03) >

 

 

		Greater Seoul	Chung cheong (North/ South)	Honam	Gyeong sang (North)	Gyeong sang (South)	Gang won	Jeju
Daily New Cases (Local Outbreaks, Headcount)		303.9	42.7	18.4	21.3	75.4	14.3	1.3
	≥60 years old	72.0	4.1	4.9	9.7	23.9	4.3	0.1
Immediately available ICU beds (As of 04.02, 21:00)		358	61	50	43	83	19	8

 

□ As part of maintaining a stronger stance in infection prevention/control response, the government has expanded preemptive testing to proactively identify patients, proceed with epidemiological investigation, tracing, and isolation.

 ○ Just yesterday (April 3rd (Sat)), screening centers across the nation performed 19,875 diagnostic tests, while 24,178 tests were conducted by temporary screening clinics.

   - Anonymous testing is available at the 112 temporary screening clinics* currently in operation, and the clinics have reported 3,616,482 cases during the period of December 14th to April 4th.

    * Greater Seoul : 98 temporary screening clinics (Seoul (26), Gyeonggi-do (66), Incheon (6))
 Non-Greater Seoul: 14 temporary screening clinics (Jeollabuk-do (6), Chungcheongnam-do (3), Busan (1), Daegu (1), Gwangju (1), Daejeon (1), Sejong (1))

   - The temporary screening clinics across the nation tested 24,178 people yesterday (April 3rd (Sat)) and confirmed 66 cases.

   - The government has authorized the placement of 390 health workers at these clinics to support the rollout of the nation’s COVID-19 testing strategy.

□ Thanks to the continued efforts in securing sufficient beds for treatment, the number of hospital beds available remain stable.

 ○ Residential treatment centers are operating in a total of 32 locations with 5,493 beds (as of April 3rd (Sat)). The centers are operating at 44.5% capacity with 3,051 beds available.

   - Of this number, Greater Seoul area has secured 4,707 beds. With the centers in the region operating at 45.7% capacity, 2,555 beds are ready for use.

 ○ Hospitals dedicated to infectious disease have secured 8,750 beds (as of April 3rd (Sat)). These hospitals as operating at 31.2% capacity, with 6,020 beds available, of which 2,744 are in Greater Seoul.

 ○ 428 quasi-ICU beds were available as of April 3rd (Sat). With the national bed occupancy rate at 44.2%, 239 beds remain available. In Greater Seoul 157 units are available.

 ○ 766 ICU beds have been secured as of April 3rd (Sat), with 622 nation-wide and 358 in Greater Seoul area remaining available.

< Bed Availability by Symptom Severity Grade (as of 04.03) >

 

 

		Residential Treatment Centers		Hospitals for Infectious Disease		Quasi-ICU Beds		ICU Beds
		Acquired	Available	Acquired	Available	Acquired	Available	Acquired	Available
Nation-wide		5,493	3,051	8,750	6,020	428	239	766	622
Greater Seoul		4,707	2,555	3,870	2,744	283	157	472	358
	Seoul	2,245	1,325	1,829	1,328	84	44	217	176
	Gyeonggi	1,517	765	1,259	712	166	91	204	136
	Incheon	380	188	782	704	33	22	51	46
Gangwon		-	-	362	187	5	5	24	19
Chungcheong (North/South)		-	-	905	461	46	24	65	61
Honam		110	107	955	760	10	4	51	50
Gyeongsang (North)		-	-	1,403	1,104	28	15	47	43
Gyeongsang (South)		481	194	1,020	544	51	32	99	83
Jeju		195	195	235	220	5	2	8	8

 

 

 

 

○ Along with such efforts to secure sufficient beds, the government continues to support treatment and diagnostic testing by dispatching 1,061 health workers including doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals to the medical facilities, residential treatment centers, temporary screening clinics, etc.

2.  Best Practices from Municipalities

□ The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) shared “Best Practices in Infection Prevention/Control” from the following municipalities in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongsangnam-do. In Busan, Buk-gu (District Administrator Jeong Myeong-hui) and Haeundae-gu (District Administrator Hong Sun-heon) received special attention. From Ulsan, the Buk-gu district (District Administrator Lee Dong-kwon) was highlighted, while the city of Geoje (Mayor Byun Gwang-yong) in Gyeongsangnam-do was recognized.

□ The Buk-gu district in Busan is strengthening its infection prevention/control measures with rapid and responsive administrative orders and proactive site inspections.

 ○ Last September, the district government was able to minimize the spread of the virus following a cluster oubreak incident in its Mandeok-dong neighborhood by quickly responding with timely and appropriate administrative orders.

   - When the neighborhood reported 120 cases from September to November of 2020, the district government announced an administrative order* which limited gatherings for the whole of Mandeok-dong, which was a first for Korea.

    * Initial period: October 2nd – 15th
      Additional period (extension): October 16th – 29th

   - As a result, 19 small-scale parks located in the neighborhood were closed, and the administrative order to limit gatherings made mandatory the compliance to infection prevention/control codes for general restaurants and take-out restaurants, thereby preventing the spread of the virus.

   - The local government supported these measures by providing equipments related to preventing infectious diseases including masks and hand sanitizers for small businesses such as food producers (798 businesses). The same was provided to people in self-isolation (850 people).

 ○ The Buk-gu district government continues to proactively design and deliver infection prevention/control measures that respond to practical needs in the real world to raise the overall compliance level in its district.

   - All the Buk-gu district government employees (approximately 200 people) have been listed as infection prevention/control supervisors for private educational institutes and study centers. At the same time constant effort was made to listen to feedback from the field.

   - For the senior citizens amongst those required to self-isolate, especially those experiencing difficulties installing the self-isolation safety protection app, the district government is sending assistants to their homes to support the process and provide guidance on the infection prevention/control code he/she has to follow.

□ The Haeundae-gu district government in Busan presented their best practice cases of preventing the spread of the virus during last summer’s beach season and supporting the local businesses throughout.

 ○ Theses practices included administrative orders enabling a safe beach season during summer holidays, reducing the number of beach umbrellas to control crowding, and setting operation hours for beach facilities.

   - Masks were mandatory on the beaches, and an administrative order banned the consumption of food and beverages by two or more people on the beach at night (July 25th – September 30th (2020)).

    * On-site compliance officers : 2,783 (Haeundae Beach : 1,960, Songjeong Beach : 823),
      Guidance : 5,137 cases (Haeundae Beach : 3,145, Songjeong Beach : 1,992)

   - In addition, beach umbrellas were handed out on site, thereby reducing rental volume by 50% and enabling the enforcement of a safe distance of two meters between the beach umbrellas.

    * Renting beach umbrellas required providing a phone number which was then matched to a designated numbered spot on the beach. This created a system for tracing cases which could be used for epidemiological investigation.

   - Further, by setting operation hours for beach facilities (July 1st – August 21st (2020)) such as bathrooms, showers, changing booths, and nursing rooms, authorities could close down the facilities two to three times a day to clean and disinfect the premises.

 ○ With the voluntary participation of local businesses, the district held a “Thanks To You Special Sale” period that helped breath life back into the local economy.

   - A total of 952 business participated with various promotional activities such as 1+1 promotions, gift promotions, discounts (between 5% to 50%), special events for each day of the week, and sweepstakes promotions. The merchants at each business site decided on the period (second and third quarters of 2020) and strategy that was best for them and the approach that reflected the unique nature of their offerings.

   - Data analysis of credit card usage during this period presented a clear picture of success with the number of credit card purchases showing a 64.7% year-over-year growth, while there was a 75% year-over-year growth in the aggregate amount.

□ The Buk-gu district in Ulsan is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by setting up an infection prevention/control regime in cooperation with citizens and the private sector while also providing support for micro businesses.

 ○ Working together with citizens and the private sector allows for identifying blind spots the infection prevention/control measures might miss, and also helps build an infection prevention/control response regime that preemptively resolves pandemic-related issues by pursuing strategies such as providing preemptive diagnostic testing to the most vulnerable members of the population.

   - The district government has brought together voluntary citizen groups for infection prevention/control (49 teams, approximately 700 people, since February of 2020) for each sub-district neighborhood unit (dong) to help raise awareness about infection prevention/control codes, and also provide infection control/prevention effort once or twice a week in vulnerable locations in the neighborhoods.

   - Three temporary screening clinics have been established in strategically important locations for delivery workers, mass transportation workers, and other people working jobs that require exposure to a large number of people, along with workers in special facilities such as those assisting people with disabilities or providing childcare. Free testing is provided as part of the local government’s preemptive infection control strategy (since January of 2021).

 ○ Realizing the prolonged pandemic has negatively impacted the job security of microbusinesses, the local authorities in the district of Buk-gu and the city of Ulsan worked closely with Hyundai Motor Company to create an agreement between the management and the union which establishes a special 80 billion won fund for job security and financial stability in the microbusiness sector.

   - The funding (80 billion won over two years) will be used as loan interest subsidy to help mitigate risks of mass layoffs and other job stability issues for car parts manufacturers in the region.

□ The city of Geoje in Gyeongsangnam-do province is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by putting in place preemptive infection prevention/control measures that can shutdown the spread of the disease in its early stages. The local government is also supporting the grassroots business community through various initiatives aimed at revitalizing its economy.

 ○ The preemptive measures aimed at preventing the spread of the virus included a systemic approach utilizing administrative orders such as bans on gatherings, and the expanded operation of temporary screening clinics.

   - The local government recommended temporary business closure for Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering in the wake of a cluster outbreak incident on its premises. As a result, from March 20th to the 22nd, the business closed all its operation sites. An emergency response meeting was held to examine the infection prevention/control situation, and diagnostic testing was conducted for all workers as part of an all-out effort to stop the disease from spreading.

   - Social distancing was strengthened to level 2 beginning March 19th, to prevent the spread of disease through publicly used facilities. The city government issued an administrative order (March 15th – April 11th) banning gatherings at public baths, entertainment facilities, and karaoke bars. The move also included site inspection. Furthermore, for the 1,175 workers in these businesses, the authorities provided diagnostic testing with the option for anonymous testing which stopped the spread of the disease early.

   - To enable voluntary compliance to infection prevention/control codes, the city government signed an agreement with associations* that represent the 256 publicly used facilities and religious organizations to reinforce the cooperation framework for voluntary compliance to infection prevention/control codes.

    * Agreements regarding voluntary compliance: With five local branches of associations representing the publicly used facilities (4,688 participating businesses).

   - By expanding the operation (10 clinics) of temporary screening clinics, the authorities were able to perform 26,456 preemptive diagnostic tests for entertainment facilities and other high-risk sites. Geoje was also able to respond to the emergency request for diagnostic screening workers from the neighboring city of Tongyeong and Goseong county.

    * Number of diagnostics tests performed at temporary screening clinics: 116,000 (Approximately ½ of Geoje residents.)

 ○ The Geoje government is supporting its grassroots business community by investigating potential blind spots which policies and support programs might have overlooked.

   - A special Geoje Emergency Coronavirus Relief Fund* tailored to the needs of the city was created to help revive the cooling local economy. Special support was provided to small merchants** in policy blind spots that suffered losses – outside of the administrative orders – due to the freeze in consumer spending caused by the pandemic.

    * 50,000 won per person (October 26th – December 31st (2020)), 12.4 billion won for approximately 240,000 people
   ** 300,000 won per business (March 4th – April 2nd (2021)), 2 billion won for 6,745 cases

   - The “Geoje Shipbuilding Job Security Program*” is currently running programs customized for the local shipbuilding parts and services suppliers and their workers who are facing job insecurity. Subsidies for workers that encourage upskilling to meet the demands of Geoje employers, and subsidies to employers to maintain their payrolls are strategies in the program that are projected to support job security for approximately 6,000 people for about six months to a year.

    * 4 sectors, 9 business types, total budget 87.7 billion won (October, 2020 – December, 2021)

3. Special Infection Prevention/Control Measures for the Gyeongsangnam-do Region (Busan,  Ulsan, Gyeongsangnam-do)

□ The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) reviewed the “Special Infection Prevention/Control Measures for the Gyeongsangnam-do Region” presented by the Busan Metropolitan City (Acting Mayor Lee Byoung-jin), Ulsan Metropolitan City (Mayor Song Cheol-ho), and Gyeongsangnam-do province (Governor: Kim Kyoung-soo).

□ Busan is focusing its infection prevention/control efforts on entertainment facilities and publicly used facilities where cluster outbreaks have been reported recently. It is also ramping up special infection prevention/control efforts for spring festivals and tourism destinations.

 ○ With cluster outbreaks being reported at entertainment facilities and publicly used facilities, social distancing is at level 2 as part of a broader effort to enhance infection prevention/control and management.

   - From April 2nd to the 4th, the local authorities have inspected all entertainment facilities to check for compliance to infection prevention/control codes such as business hours (mandated closing hours (22:00)). An administrative order was also issued (April 2nd) for workers at entertainment facilities and the customers to receive preemptive diagnostic testing.

    * 8,614 tested (7,387 employees, 1,227 customers), 42 cases confirmed (18 employees, 24 customers) (As of April 2nd)

   - Beginning March 29th (Mon), the local authorities have formed inspection teams at each district/county to inspect all social welfare facilities for compliance with infection prevention/control codes.

   - Places of worship are inspected each Sunday for compliance to infection prevention/control codes. Aside from the religious service, all face-to-face gatherings such as small group meetings and dining together is banned.

 ○ With social distancing at level 2, screening center operations have been expanded to respond to citizens who need diagnostic testing even when not showing symptoms.

   - Since March 4th (Thu), to promote the testing of workers who cannot easily leave their jobs, mobile screening centers are visiting neighborhoods where a large number of businesses operate.

    * Numbers tested: 7,223 tests for 95 businesses (4,660 Korean nationals, 2,563 foreign nationals), 6 cases confirmed.

   - Additionally, for regions reporting a sudden spike in cases, or regions showing a large number of unclear results in their infection source investigations, the authorities are operating temporary screening clinics whenever needed. The local government is also performing regular preemptive testing for facilities vulnerable to infection, while also simultaneously conducting campaigns to raise awareness of the wide availability of testing.

    * (Youngdo-gu (Sub-district neighborhood)) February, 2021 : 2,243 tested, 7 cases confirmed.
     (Saha-gu) April 4th – 10th, 2021 : 3,000 tests projected
   ** The city of Busan is performing preemptive testing (once every two weeks) for workers in Support Centers for People with Disabilities, Job Placement Centers for People with Disabilities, and Daycare Centers for People with Disabilities (since January, 2021).

 ○ The local authorities are preparing to strengthen infection prevention/control and management efforts for spring festivals and tourism destinations.

   - Festivals will operate based on a reservation system so as to prevent crowding, and keep visitors and visiting times safely distributed. Adoption of non-face-to-face formats and reducing the scale of festivities will help control visitor density. There will be a joint effort with the police and fire departments, and other relevant agencies for infection prevention/control and safety inspection.

   - For major tourism destinations and popular tourist spots where crowding is expected, an on-site infection prevention/control officer will provide guidance as part of the larger effort to strengthen infection prevention/control measures.

□ The Ulsan Metropolitan Government is conducting inspections of facilities at-risk for infection, while also strengthening infection prevention/control measures for workplaces and foreign nationals.

 ○ The authorities are focusing inspection efforts on facilities and locations where crowds tend to form during the spring season.

   - Special inspection teams have been designated for 1,228 sites including places of worship, sports team dormitories, and tourism destinations to check for compliance (March 29th – April 30th) with the appropriate infection prevention/control codes.

   - In addition, the authorities have recommended canceling regional spring festivals or holding festivities in non-face-to-face formats. An infection prevention/control compliance officer has to be designated to ensure thorough adherence to the codes. Sweeping effort will be made to raise awareness about infection prevention/control measures for outdoor activities.

    * News ticker announcements (twice daily or more, five broadcasting stations including UBC (Ulsan Broadcasting Company)), 823 physical locations (electronic billboards, bus in-vehicle displays, etc.)
 ○ Given that many of the nation’s foundational industries such as automobile manufacturing, shipbuilding, and petrochemicals are located in Ulsan, the local government is building an immediate response system in collaboration with the businesses to strengthen the channels of communication and enhance coordination.

   - The authorities have provided consultations on infection prevention/control guidelines for the 1,822 businesses in the 28 industrial complexes of its jurisdiction. The local government has also strengthened its management practices regarding temporary quarantine facilities for foreign nationals entering Korea. An emergency contact network for infection prevention/control has been created together with the businesses as part of the systematic effort to implement infection prevention/control.

   - For businesses with a large number of employees, along with a high number of foreign nationals in their workforce, the city of Ulsan has conducted a special inspection for compliance to the infection prevention/control codes, while also working with associations and businesses to encourage testing (March 3rd – April 12th)*.

    * Currently 1,682 tested, all results negative

 ○ The “Job Security Cooperation Program” is being implemented to overcome the challenges of job insecurity in light of the continuing pandemic and the resulting economic downturn experienced by major industries.

   - Participating businesses can expect to receive seven policy packages which provide assistance in key business operation areas in the forms of employment maintenance support groups, employment maintenance incentives, subsidies for four social insurances, job security financing, accounts receivable insurance premium payment, and deferral of local taxes and water/sewer bills.
 
 ○ (Employment maintenance support groups) Various consulting services for financial affairs, labor affairs, taxes, financing, training, etc.
 ○ (Employment maintenance incentives) 10% of paid leave allowance, maximum 3 million won per month
 ○ (Subsidies for four social insurances) 30% of full-time employees, maximum 25 employees, 200,000 won/month for each employee
 ○ (Job security financing) Maximum 200 million won per business, two-year grace period, bullet repayment
 ○ (Accounts receivable insurance premium payment) 50% of the premium paid by the business, maximum 2 million won per business
 ○ (Deferral of local taxes and water/sewer bills) Postponement of notification, notification in installments, deferral of foreclosures, etc.

   - Further, Ulsan became the first region to bring about a social agreement* for job security amongst all economic players from the labor, management, civil society, and government sectors. Together, the parties have dedicated themselves to overcoming the economic challenges of the pandemic.

    * 300 businesses, employment maintenance of more than 15,000 jobs.

□ The Gyeongsangnam-do provincial government is performing preemptive tests for high-risk facilities, while maintaining a strengthened infection prevention/control regime that includes special inspections for publicly used facilities.

 ○ The authorities are preventing the spread of the disease by performing preemptive testing for high-risk facilities and facilities in blind spots overlooked by disease control measures, while also delivering infection prevention/control measures customized for each region and/or business.

   - The province is raising social distancing levels* accordingly with the trends in disease transmission, and the infection prevention/control situation. The authorities are also categorizing facilities where gatherings are banned, and facilities where gatherings are limited**. These efforts are stopping the spread of infection.

     * Six instances of raised social distancing levels: Jinju (city) Level 3, Geoje (city) Level 2, Hadong (county) Level 1)
    ** Gatherings banned: Entertainment facilities, public baths, karaoke bars, gaming/internet cafes, VR golf practice clubs (screen golf), health food stores with customer experience space
      Gatherings limited: Beauty salons, spas

   - A full-headcount testing was performed for high-risk facilities including postnatal care centers, homeless shelters, and protection facilities for women and children (26,455 people). Preemptive testing was also conducted for sites and populations that could be overlooked by authorities such as unregistered dormitory-type educational facilities, and foreign national agricultural workers (15,552 people in all categories).

   - Furthermore, authorities have recognized a pattern in which many COVID-19 patients often visited medical facilities and pharmacies when they are not yet confirmed cases. Therefore, in cities and counties where cluster outbreaks have been reported, an administrative order mandates the keeping of a list of people who show COVID-19-like symptoms. The administrative order also led to the testing of those people who purchased fever reducer/pain relief medication or received testing recommendations from medical facilities.

 ○ Stronger infection prevention/control steps are taken for publicly used facilities where cluster outbreaks are reported.

   - All public bath businesses were inspected (March 15th – 19th), and preemptive testing (March 17th – 28th) was performed for its workers*.

    * 3,725 workers in 769 public bath businesses located in the province have been tested, resulting in 3 confirmed cases

   - Communication channels were established with the religious community in preparation for religious holidays such as Easter to request voluntary compliance to infection prevention/control codes. All places of worship will be inspected (March 31st – April 11th) for compliance.

   - Additionally, large-scale business sites (38 sites) will undergo inspection (March 29th – April 7th), while recommendations have been made to cancel regional festivals during the spring tourism period, with stronger infection prevention/control compliance being enforced (March 27th – May 31st) at tourism destinations.

4. Self-Quarantine Management and Social Distancing Updates

□ The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) received the report from the Ministry of Interior and Safety (Minister Jeon Hae-cheol) titled “Self-Quarantine Management and Social Distancing Updates.”

 ○ As of April 3rd (Sat), 18:00, there were 68,458 people in self-isolation. Of this number, 25,086 are international travelers, and 43,372 are local outbreak cases.

   - The day-over-day increase is 3,901.

□ On April 3rd (Sat), each local government inspected a total of 10,663 sites in 24 business areas, including 5,686 restaurants and coffee shops, and 993 athletic facilities. There were 48 instances of non-compliance to infection prevention/control codes that required on-site guidance.

 ○ Further, there was a special late-night inspection in cooperation with the Korean National Police Agency and law enforcement (114 teams, 451 inspection officers) for 1,607 entertainment facilities including night clubs and gamseong jujeom (restaurants where patrons can dance and socializing is tacitly encouraged).

□ The Ministry of Interior and Safety recognized the limitations of inspections performed by authorities. As a result, since last July, a “COVID-19 Safety Concern Report” function was added to the preexisting Safety Report system.

 ○ Since the function was added on July 6th, 2020, a total of 142,202 cases have been reported so far.

   - The top three most reported concerns in descending order of frequency were the violation of ban on gatherings, mask mandate non-compliance, and improper social distancing. Initially, mask wearing violation reports were most frequent, but after the announcement (December 24th, 2021) of special strengthened infection prevention/control measures for the year-end and new year periods, the number of reports regarding non-compliance to orders banning gatherings have risen.

 ○ Last March a total of 19,348 safety reports have been filed concerning publicly used facilities.

   - The most commonly reported facility types were restaurants (2,268 reports), coffee shops (1,167 reports), public transportation (937 reports), and in-door athletic facilities (813 reports).

   - In the order of decreasing frequency, the reports were concerning violations of social gathering bans (8,863 reports), mask mandate non-compliance (7,391 reports), improper social distancing (1,187 reports), visitor record-keeping violations (900 reports), and performing improper temperature check (616 reports).

 ○ Of the 142,202 reports filed with the government’s Safety Report System, after instances of duplicate reports, fact check failure, and voluntary report withdrawals were removed, 104,154 cases were reviewed. The following administrative sanctions were imposed: 46 cases fined, official charges filed for 92 cases, and guidance provided to 103,852 cases.