S. Korea sees second wave of COVID-19 earlier than expected
- 4 years ago
전문가가 진단하는 코로나19 2차 대유행 상황 및 전망
The second wave of COVID-19 in South Korea has always been anticipated... but it has arrived earlier than expected.
Experts say the second wave has the potential to be worse than the first wave, but also that people now better know how to prevent the spread of the virus.
Kim Sung-min explains.
It was a matter of when, not if.
The second wave of COVID-19 in South Korea has come earlier than expected... and experts say there are several reasons why.
"We have a situation now, it's early of August 2020 in Korea because monsoon seasons was one week before..., people were crowded under the air conditioning and couldn't ventilate it, which loves to transmit the COVID-19 condition."
Since South Korea is in the middle of its summer holiday, the number of cases could stay high as infections during this period get recorded.
Also, the fact that healthy people do not normally show many symptoms could mean that people have been traveling around the country spreading the virus without even knowing they have it.
However, experts do say that compared to the country's first outbreak in February, people are more prepared now and know how to protect themselves from the virus.
"We didn't know how to protect our bodies from the COVID-19 virus but most of them now know. I believe that it can't be happening the same as Daegu and Gyeongbuk happening but probably around one hundred to two hundred people confirmed everyday to the end of this week..., and little more next week."
However, in order to prevent the situation from getting worse, experts say the government should make sure people focus on virus prevention efforts.
"People have been complying with the words of experts and wearing masks as well as keeping social distancing. But they have become more casual about it. The government's efforts to boost consumption might have also sent the wrong signal. So it is important to return to the original goals, especially during the holiday season."
Experts also recommend the government to keep strict measures in place as simply suggesting that people avoid gatherings without banning them could lead to further infections in the following months.
Kim Sung-min, Arirang News
The second wave of COVID-19 in South Korea has always been anticipated... but it has arrived earlier than expected.
Experts say the second wave has the potential to be worse than the first wave, but also that people now better know how to prevent the spread of the virus.
Kim Sung-min explains.
It was a matter of when, not if.
The second wave of COVID-19 in South Korea has come earlier than expected... and experts say there are several reasons why.
"We have a situation now, it's early of August 2020 in Korea because monsoon seasons was one week before..., people were crowded under the air conditioning and couldn't ventilate it, which loves to transmit the COVID-19 condition."
Since South Korea is in the middle of its summer holiday, the number of cases could stay high as infections during this period get recorded.
Also, the fact that healthy people do not normally show many symptoms could mean that people have been traveling around the country spreading the virus without even knowing they have it.
However, experts do say that compared to the country's first outbreak in February, people are more prepared now and know how to protect themselves from the virus.
"We didn't know how to protect our bodies from the COVID-19 virus but most of them now know. I believe that it can't be happening the same as Daegu and Gyeongbuk happening but probably around one hundred to two hundred people confirmed everyday to the end of this week..., and little more next week."
However, in order to prevent the situation from getting worse, experts say the government should make sure people focus on virus prevention efforts.
"People have been complying with the words of experts and wearing masks as well as keeping social distancing. But they have become more casual about it. The government's efforts to boost consumption might have also sent the wrong signal. So it is important to return to the original goals, especially during the holiday season."
Experts also recommend the government to keep strict measures in place as simply suggesting that people avoid gatherings without banning them could lead to further infections in the following months.
Kim Sung-min, Arirang News