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Shoppers pause to take a photo in front of Halloween decorations at the Lotte World Tower in Jamsil, Songpa District, on Friday afternoon. (Yonhap News)

The number of newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 is nearing 2,000 per day again after falling to the low 1,000 range for a time.

A phased return to normal routines next month under the government’s program of “living with COVID-19” is set to start Monday, but infectious disease prevention and control authorities are urging the public to follow basic virus curbs such as practicing proper ventilation and wearing masks ahead of the Halloween weekend.

The number of confirmed cases on Wednesday reached 1,952 — a jump from the average of 1,338 over the previous 10 days, though weekdays normally see more cases given lower testing rates on weekends. The figure earlier this month exceeded 2,000 per day for three straight days — 2,027 on Oct. 6; 2,425 on Oct. 7; and 2,172 on Oct. 8 — before falling to under 2,000 for 20 days starting Oct. 9.

Son Young-rae, a senior official at the Central Disaster Management Headquarters attributed the recent surge to eased disease prevention measures such as last week’s raising of the permissible number of people at a private gathering, the public’s expectations for an imminent return to daily life, and ventilation problems due to heightened indoor activity caused by colder weather.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on Wednesday also announced "ventilation guidelines" ahead of increased indoor activity in winter. They included allowing natural ventilation through windows by opening front and rear windows to allow cross ventilation, ensuring natural ventilation even if air conditioners or heating is on, and discharging indoor pollutants outside using a fan or circulation device if ventilation equipment is unavailable.

A study found that 10 minutes of natural ventilation or continuous use of ventilation equipment can reduce the risk of airborne infection by the coronavirus by one-third

The government urged younger people to exercise caution during Halloween this weekend to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.

"Keep meetings as short as possible, continue practicing ventilation and strictly adhere to basic infectious disease prevention and control guidelines such as wearing masks," Son said.

On Friday, the government released a plan to conduct special infectious disease prevention and control inspections of restaurants and areas frequented by foreign nationals ahead of Halloween weekend. From Wednesday through Tuesday, Nov. 2, bars and entertainment facilities in areas that attract many foreign residents and young people will undergo such inspections.

By Kwon Ji-dam, staff reporter

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