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| Officials from Yeongdeungpo-gu Office hold signs near Yeouinaru Station in Seoul, Monday, calling for people to keep a distance of two meters from one another, while citizens walk along and view the cherry blossoms. Yonhap |
By Jun Ji-hye
The health authorities voiced concern Monday over a weakening in the public's participation in the government's social distancing campaign aimed at containing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, with outdoor crowds being seen frequently over the weekend.
The government warned the public about lowering their guard against the coronavirus, noting that further mass infections in Seoul and the surrounding areas could lead to a more serious public health crisis similar to those seen in Europe and the United States.
According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, there was a 20 percent increase in the movement of people going outside for leisure purposes Saturday and Sunday, compared to the end of February.
The government has analyzed people's movements utilizing statistical information collected by SK Telecom's base stations.
Many people still gathered at churches to participate in worship services, while others visited parks or streets lined with trees sporting spring blossoms. Young people gathered at nightclubs, although the government announced Saturday that it was extending its social distancing campaign for another two weeks.
"Despite the government's plea to maintain a high-level of physical distancing, people's participation in the campaign has weakened for the past two weeks as an increasing number have felt mental fatigue over the prolonged practice," Vice Health Minister Kim Gang-lip said during a briefing.
According to Daegu, more than 200 churches pushed ahead with indoor Sunday services, with more than 12,000 people attending them.
In North Chungcheong Province, 730 churches held services, despite the government recommendation to conduct them online.
Many visitors were also seen near Yunjung-no, the cherry blossom tree-lined street behind the National Assembly on Yeouido, although Yeongdeungpo-gu Office closed it off due to public health concerns.
Kim said the data showed that the number of visitors to Yeouido, the Han River and Mount Nam where cherry blossom trees were in full bloom increased rapidly at 4 p.m. Sunday.
"Korea could have seen better results in its fight against COVID-19 if people had participated in social distancing more actively," Kim said.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) confirmed 47 new cases and three more deaths, Sunday, bringing the nation's total infections to 10,284, and the death toll to 186.
Infection clusters in Seoul and surrounding areas, as well as cases of foreign origin have continued to emerge.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun once again asked people to continue with a high-level physical distancing, saying, "Physical distancing is a consideration for others and the most effective way to protect yourself."
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice said it had deported a Taiwanese woman late Sunday in accordance with the government's zero-tolerance policy against quarantine violators, as she refused to stay at a quarantine facility.
According to the ministry, the woman refused to pay the cost for staying in the government-designated facility.
The government is placing all new arrivals in mandatory self-quarantine at their homes or government-designated facilities, starting Wednesday. The daily cost at the facilities is around 100,000 won ($81).
