The government expressed concern, stating, "Cases of COVID-19 are increasing in neighboring areas such as Hong Kong, China, and Thailand," and urged, "Senior citizens aged 65 and older and residents of high-risk facilities should get vaccinated as soon as possible."
Lee Han-gyeong, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's Disaster Management Headquarters, presided over a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Central Headquarters) at the Government Sejong Center on the 30th, noting, "The government has extended the vaccination period until the end of June."
The Deputy Minister noted, "In most countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan, the positivity rate remains low at below 6%, and the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the country has shown slight fluctuations without significant changes over the past month," adding, "However, considering the epidemic situation in neighboring countries and the increase in cases last summer, we will proactively prepare for the possibility of a COVID-19 resurgence this summer."
The government urged citizens, stating, "If you experience suspicious symptoms upon returning after traveling abroad, please inform the airport quarantine officers, and thoroughly adhere to preventive measures such as hand washing, cough etiquette, and wearing masks in daily life."
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the domestic coronavirus detection rate, recorded through respiratory disease surveillance clinics, reached 8.8% during the week of the 18th to the 24th (week 21), marking an increase for two consecutive weeks.