The government has begun steps to draft additional quarantine measures as containing the fourth wave is proving difficult with the current measures alone.

In a Thursday briefing, Health Ministry official Son Young-rae said a comprehensive review is under way with various experts to analyze the current situation and assess whether additional measures are necessary.

He ruled out a shift to new guidelines that center more on deaths and hospitalizations rather than case numbers. Son said it's important to curb new infections until the vaccination rate goes up.

The official said the goal is to minimize deaths, reduce the burden on the healthcare system, prevent social and economic damage, and fully vaccinate 70 percent of the population by November.