The public is at its limit when it comes to South Korea’s quarantine restrictions. The people are in despair, “How much longer do I have to live like this?” The inconvenience of daily life has reached its peak as people are questioning these careless measures of being effective. Small business owners are worried about their survival. Self-employed people are now extorting a new type of crime, “If you don’t give me money, I will report violations of quarantine mandates.” The aftereffects of these strict, inflexible quarantine restrictions are serious.
However, the government is not budging and there are no signs that they’re even listening to the public’s discomfort and social anxiety. The people are now doubting whether the COVID-19 positive cases being announced every day are even true. They are even questioning whether these quarantine measures are science-based. Especially since other countries are lifting their COVID-19 mandates one after another, people are guessing that there are hidden motives and intentions behind the Moon Jae-in administration’s excessive mandates.
These countries that are now easing restrictions were known to be much more serious than South Korea. However, the government’s indifference can’t help but be noticed and criticized as restrictions are being lifted and others are saying that the “COVID-19 pandemic is over.” Isn’t it appropriate to look at why such measures are being taken and adjust accordingly?
Denmark has lifted all COVID restrictions on the 1st as the first country to do so in the EU—there are no mask mandates and the use of vaccination certificates. The government announced that “it is no longer a threat,” as 80 percent of the population have received two vaccinations and 60 percent have received the booster. On the 8th, Sweden lifted its social distancing rules, the use of vaccination passes, gathering restrictions. Beginning April 1, they will be redefining COVID, “There is no risk to society and public health.” Sweden’s vaccination rate is at 73 percent. Both countries are much lower compared to South Korea’s vaccination rate.
Norway has also lifted most of its restrictions beginning February 1, except for the 1-meter social distancing rule. Its Prime Minister explained of easing restrictions, “Although positive cases are rapidly increasing, the rate of hospitalizations is decreasing.” At the end of January, the United Kingdom lifted most of its restrictions, including the mask mandate and they have plans by the end of this month to eliminate mandatory quarantine of those who test positive. From the beginning of this pandemic, the Republican governor of Florida had mandated very few restrictions. We are now seeing states that had strict restrictions placed by Democratic governors, like Oregon, Connecticut, and New York, are now easing the mask mandates. This is because even leftists are now becoming aware of the issues made by such strict restrictions.
Looking at these countries, there seems to be no reason for the government to insist on having strict quarantine measures. We should learn from these countries and become free of these authoritarian-like restrictions.
