Enhanced Social Distancing Campaign

Here in South Korea, COVID-19 is still a major concern despite being relatively successful in containing the virus through a massive testing effort. There is cautious optimism because cases of new infections have gradually decreased in Korea after having been a major hot-spot for the virus. There are now about 75-150 new cases in the entire country each day, down from 500-700 at the peak of the outbreak. Busan typically has zero or one new case per day and only 108 known infections in the city.

It seems that many of the new cases in South Korea are brought in by travellers from Europe and neighbouring Asian countries. As such, there are new restrictions on those entering the country. The most recent arrivals in Korea are asked to download a government app to report their symptoms and track their location, ensuring that they remain isolated at home for the required 14 day period. I suspect other governments around the world have or will adopt similar technological measures during this pandemic and I worry about privacy rights once we have returned to normalcy. Thankfully, I was not required to participate in this government tracking system when I arrived in Korea five weeks ago, and hopefully, I will not be subject to mandatory home-isolation in the future.

To reinforce the seriousness of the self-isolation measure, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun issued a strong warning that includes fines and imprisonment for Korean nationals and removal from the country for foreigners.  "There is a need to file complaints with those who do not abide by the rules without legitimate reasons and to order deportation in the case of foreigners.”

I have registered with the Canadian Embassy in Seoul and regularly receive updates on important issues for Canadians here and the situation back home. We’ve been informed that for the month of April direct flights from South Korea to Canada will stop. Both Air Canada and Korean Air have made that decision, but flights that connect in other countries such as Japan or USA are still available for those travelling onward to Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal.

To prevent a second wave, the South Korean government has introduced an Enhanced Social Distancing Campaign for the next two weeks. While some in Korea have become more relaxed with social distancing in recent days, this campaign asks everyone for extra vigilance for two weeks. I think this a push to ensure that things are as safe as possible when schools open on April 6th.

The enhanced social distancing campaign essentially outlines best practices for hygiene and keeping a safe distance from others. The rule-loving bureaucrats at the Board of Education have especially glommed onto the point about returning home directly after leaving work and warned us that “if anyone is found to have contracted the virus and then spread it during this period by ignoring the rules will face a reprimand.” I can’t help but wonder if I have the terrible misfortune of contracting the coronavirus, will a reprimand, rather than flowers, be sent to my hospital bed?

Yesterday, I was almost trapped in my apartment. An accidental self-isolation, of sorts. Repairs are underway in various units in my apartment building. My neighbour’s door was held wide open by a doorstop. When I opened my door to leave, it formed an impassible box that prevented me from walking out. I tried to move passed but could not make myself thin enough to slip through. After deciding that I really did need to get back to school, I pushed, and pushed my neighbour’s door out of the way, making a loud screeching sound along the floor. I made my escape, heard but not seen.

The repair work has solved the mystery of the recently installed electrical outlet in my shower ceiling. The hot water heater that previously resided above my kitchen sink was moved into the shower. Why? I’m not sure. I suppose that since it’s now in the shower I won’t have to worry if it leaks.

The workers were kind enough to paint the ceiling in my shower and, oddly, gift me a filthy toothbrush. Another mystery. I assume the toothbrush is unrelated to social distancing.