People receive COVID-19 tests at a temporary testing center in Gwangju, South Jeolla Province, Thursday. Due to the COVID-19 resurgence, the city reinstalled temporary testing centers that had been closed for 70 days. Yonhap

By Lee Hae-rin

Local experts forecast that the current COVID-19 surge may ― rather than dropping sharply after peaking, which is expected to occur by the end of this month ― take a long time to decline.

"After reaching a peak by the end of this month, the COVID-19 resurgence this time may leave a prolonged course of transmissions instead of showing a sharp decline," Kim Woo-joo, a professor of infectious diseases at Korea University Guro Hospital, said Sunday.

Kim explained that the number of people taking COVID-19 tests has gone down due to it being the peak summer vacation season, accompanied by the long weekend with the National Liberation Day on Monday, Aug. 15. Also, flood damage from the devastating torrential rains around the country last week has made getting tested immediately, more difficult.

Choi Won-suk, a professor of infectious diseases at Korea University Ansan Hospital agreed with Kim and explained that it could take some time for the country to flatten the current curve after reaching its peak.

Although the number of daily infections may not see another dramatic surge in the coming weeks, people's perceptions of the coronavirus have changed a lot, Choi said, and the actual number of infections could be greater than what is being reported, as more people see the virus as less fatal and neglect getting tested.