Australia postpones border opening due to concerns over ‘omicron mutation’▶ Click here for a larger view
The COVID-19 pandemic, which seemed not to have a far-reaching destination, is driving the world back into fear with a new weapon called the Omicron mutation. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently warned that the omicron mutation, first discovered in Botswana, Africa, is a “global risk factor”. The Omicron mutation has both the excellent vaccine evasion power of the beta mutation and the explosive propagation power of the delta mutation, giving it the nickname ‘Frankenstein hybrid’. There were as many as 32 mutations in the spike protein used for cell penetration, and it is said that such a dramatic mutation could not be predicted by the medical and scientific community at all. It is known that the propagation power is 5 to 6 times the delta variation. As for symptoms, there are reports that only a mild cough occurs without loss of taste or smell. Although it is still in the early stages of research, it is quite shocking to know about it so far. The new mutation was named omicron, the 15th letter of the Greek alphabet, and I am worried that this will lead to an omega mutation.
With the advent of the new mutation, the economy and daily life, which were recovering little by little, were also severely hit. The U.S. stock market, which has fluctuated in recent days, is a symbol of uncertainty in the global economy. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said on Friday that the omicron mutation poses downside risks to the US economy and employment, including increasing inflation uncertainty. In fact, if the mutant virus spreads at a formidable speed, the global economy may face another crisis as the entire industry from manufacturing to logistics and distribution and consumption will shrink. As uncertainty is growing due to the Omicron variable, the Korean government must also thoroughly prepare for fluctuations in domestic and foreign economic and financial markets. It seems inevitable that the ‘step-by-step recovery of daily life’, which is currently in phase 1, will be reviewed. Even so, in a situation where the number of confirmed cases and stomach/severe cases is rapidly increasing, if Omicron mutations are added, an out of control situation may occur. Both the livelihood and quarantine are goals that cannot be yielded, but you may miss out on both rabbits by misjudging the situation or hesitating. Even if it is difficult, finding the optimal balance point that harmonizes the economy, daily life, and quarantine is the most important phase.
As the Omicron mutation, which started in Africa, spreads to five continents, including Europe, Asia, North America, and Oceania, countries around the world are locking the bars one after another. The South Korean government has also been denying entry to foreigners from eight African countries, including South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe, starting on the 28th. However, as seen in the case of the delta mutation, Omicron’s domestic landing is only a matter of time. Even so, it should be delayed as much as possible. As the omicron mutation has already spread around the world, it is questionable how effective the measures targeting only African countries will be. Needless to say, it is necessary to use the time earned through immigration control to fully prepare for any contingency. If the circumstances are unfavorable, measures to temporarily suspend daily recovery and preemptively implement strong quarantine measures in a short and bold manner should also be considered. People’s livelihood is the top priority of all policies, but continuity cannot be guaranteed unless quarantine is supported. Along with ‘distancing’, we also need to speed up vaccination, humanity’s most powerful weapon against COVID-19. Countries around the world are said to have prioritized ‘boost shot’ (boosting inoculation) as a strategy to counter Omicron. The quarantine authorities are urging people who are vulnerable to infection, such as the elderly, to receive additional vaccinations more quickly.
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