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South Korean Minister of Health and Welfare Kwon Deok-chul delivers a statement to the South Korean public Sunday calling for the observance of basic COVID-19 prevention measures in the Seoul Government Complex. (Yonhap News)

Kwon Deok-chul, South Korea’s Minister of Health and Welfare and first deputy director of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, released a statement to the South Korean public Sunday calling for the observance of basic COVID-19 prevention measures, cancellation of gatherings and other forms of cooperation with social distancing, and participation in vaccinations.

“Right now, we could be seen as standing at the crossroads of a possible fourth wave beginning,” he warned.

In his statement, Kwon said, “In light of our experience over the past year, the situation right now bears many similarities to conditions just before a major wave [of COVID-19 infections] begins in earnest.”

“We have over 500 patients being diagnosed each day on average, and if the current trend spreads, it could grow to over 1,000 new patients per day within a short time,” he predicted.

He went to say that the administration “appeals to the people of South Korea to please observe three rules over April.”

First, he urged people to abide by basic disease prevention rules by wearing masks, washing their hands frequently, ventilating enclosed spaces regularly and undergoing COVID-19 if they experience possible symptoms.

He also shared a “special plea to operators and users of establishments where large numbers of patients have arisen recently, including nightlife businesses, singing rooms, door-to-door sales businesses, indoor gyms and churches.”

“As of [Monday], the weeklong guidance period will be ending, and observance of basic disease prevention rules will be fully mandated,” he said.

“For the sake of everyone’s safety and ability to return to ordinary life, we ask that operators and users of multi-user facilities rigorously abide by disease prevention rules.”

Penalties are to be imposed for violations of basic prevention rules, including individual register listings for all individuals visiting restaurants and coffee shops.

Kwon also said his “second request is that people cancel all unnecessary gatherings and reduce the number of people who do meet.”

“The likelihood of infections skyrockets when people attend many gatherings and when different people assemble to consume food or drink without wearing masks,” he explained.

He went on to call for “active participation in vaccinations among those who are eligible for them.”

“For the sake of their own safety, their family members and their neighbors, we want people to be proactive about undergoing vaccination,” he said.

“If a family member is eligible for vaccination, please actively encourage and assist them,” he urged.

By Suh Hye-mi, staff reporter

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