40% of South Koreans May Become Infected with CoVID-19

According to Seoul National University Hospital

South Korea is now in the early stages of preparing for an enormous and nation-wide coronavirus infection that they anticipate will take up to a year to stop.

According to a report from Seoul National University Hospital, up to 40% percent of the country may become infected before this crisis is over.

Cui Bingjun (his Chinese name written as Pinyin), a professor of infectious disease medication, confirmed in an interview that the 40% figure represents a realistic “worst-case scenario” for the country.

He implored the government to be prepared for a long-term response and to expect that things may not improve before the end of the year.

The South Korean official count for confirmed coronavirus cases is sitting at 3,526 people so far. In an interview with the press, Bingjun made an official statement.

*(This statement has been translated into English from Chinese subtitles that were displayed over the press conference during its airing in China. The subtitles were translated with the help of Google Translate. The Chinese subtitles were translated from Korean and written by a paid translator).

Below is the statement;

“Since the first diagnosis of the new coronavirus on the 21st of last month, the city (Seoul) has entered into an epidemic prevention period. We sincerely thank the medical staff that have been on the front line of this new infection. We anticipate a surge in the number of patients that will be admitted to hospital in the nation’s capital. This phenomenon will not just disappear because it’s a virus that humans cannot be immunised for and spreads through contact. Judging by the patients already diagnosed with the virus, we anticipate that 40% of the country’s population may become infected. We need to be prepared for this eventuality and prepare appropriate countermeasures.”

Elsewhere

According to the Chinese Government, the situation across China is improving. With the exception of Hubei province (where the infection began), every other province in China has officially downgraded the severity of the threat.

This means that officials are confident that the virus is being brought under control domestically, even going so far as to say that there will be no more new infections by April. The government believes that businesses and schools will be allowed to re-open sometime in early April and that life will continue as normal in China.

As for the rest of the world, the virus may just be getting started. Infections have been reported in nearby countries including Australia and New Zealand, and far off countries including the United States. Although infection in the United States may have been because of the incompetence of the Department of Health and Human Services rather than that of travellers, according to The Washington Post.

But regardless of travel or incompetence, this virus will continue to spread over the next year. The most we can do is continue to be vigilant with our health without panicking. It pays to be smart, but keep control over our anxiety. This virus is unlikely to be beaten this year, but we will win in the end.