S. Korea Balances Jump in COVID Cases with Re-Opening

Facts

• South Korea's daily new COVID cases jumped to >80k Tues., up from >34k reported Mon., concurrent with the lifting of most pandemic restrictions. This figure is still significantly lower than the peak of its Omicron wave on Mar. 17, when daily infections stood at >621k.¹
• SK's COVID death toll increased by 82 from on Tues., to a total of 22,325. The country is still maintaining its 0.13% death rate - which is one of the world's lowest.¹
• On Mon., SK's health officials also downgraded their classification of COVID from the riskiest category of infectious disease and will treat the virus more like the seasonal flu. These changes will take effect after a 4-week transition period.²
• The BA.2 Omicron subvariant, which was first detected in SK in Jan., comprised >94% of cases as of the 3rd week of Apr.³
• Earlier this month, SK announced it would lift all COVID social distancing protocols, with its mask mandate remaining in place.⁴
• Curfews on restaurants and small businesses and the 10-person cap on private gatherings have been lifted entirely.¹

Sources: ¹Korea Herald (a), ²Wall Street Journal, ³Korea Herald (b) and ⁴Reuters.

Narratives

• Left narrative, as provided by Korea Herald. While it's great that South Korea is beginning to return to normalcy, the pandemic is still lingering and the mask mandate is prudently in place. While it's important to make strides to return to pre-pandemic life, many people are understandably cautious.
• Right narrative, as provided by ABC NEWS. South Korea knows it can't indefinitely withstand the pandemic fatigue and frustrations of its people. Social distancing is not a sustainable long-term solution, and South Korea should be praised for balancing physical risks with the mental health and economic toll of COVID restrictions.