Omicron rapid diffusion… Confirmation doubled in 1 week
Quarantine authorities lack preparation to respond to Omicron… Core response system ‘Respiratory Clinic’
20 out of 229 local governments do not… Prime Minister Kim “request to refrain from traveling during the Lunar New Year holidays”
As the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) ‘omicron mutation’ has become the dominant species in Korea, the number of new confirmed cases on the 25th is expected to record around 9,000, the largest number since the outbreak of Corona 19. On the 24th, the Central Quarantine Countermeasures Headquarters announced that the detection rate of Omicron mutation in Korea was 50.3% last week (16th-22nd). Omicron mutation has exceeded 50% in 52 days since December 1, last year, when it was first confirmed in Korea. Compared to the existing ‘delta mutation’, which became the dominant species in 89 days, it was 1.7 times faster.
According to quarantine authorities and local governments, the number of new confirmed cases tentatively counted from 00:00 to 9PM on the 24th was 7,700, close to the previous high of December 15th (7848). As of 00:00 on the 25th, it is expected that the number will exceed 8,000, more than double the number of the previous week’s Tuesday (4070). It is the same trend overseas, where the number of confirmed cases doubled every week as the omicron mutation led the fashion. Prime Minister Kim Bu-gyeom said on the same day, “If you travel during the Lunar New Year holiday (29th – February 2), you are pouring oil into a burning fire.”
It is pointed out that the government’s response system for Omicron is insufficient when the situation is urgent. A representative example is the lack of preparation for the ‘respiratory clinic’, which is the key to responding to Omicron mutations. In preparation for an explosion in the number of confirmed cases, the government ordered a respiratory clinic installed in a local hospital to take charge of rapid antigen testing and primary treatment for patients suspected of Corona 19. Starting from the 26th, this system will be started from regions where Omicron mutation is dominant, such as Gwangju, Jeonnam, Anseong, Gyeonggi, and Pyeongtaek. Jung Eun-kyung, director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said, “We are preparing to expand the (Omicron preparedness system) nationwide from the end of January to early February at the earliest.”
However, as a result of an analysis of 579 respiratory clinics nationwide (as of 5 pm on the 20th) by the Dong-A Ilbo reporting team, there were only 19 places that could provide treatment on both Saturday and Sunday. There are concerns about the weekend medical vacancy in most areas. Of the 229 local governments nationwide, 20 did not have a dedicated respiratory clinic. There is a big gap between the situation in the field and President Moon Jae-in’s emphasis on the same day, “We must quickly switch to the Omicron response system and respond.”
Government “preparation for at-home treatment for up to 60,000 people” Expert “At least 100,000 people need to bear”
Operation of response system for ‘dominant species Omicron’
If you wear a mask, even conversations within 2 meters… Starting tomorrow, ‘close contact’ will no longer be classified.
Close contact quarantine reduced to 7 days… If you are under the age of 60, first self-exam
PCR test competency focused on high-risk groups… 3% of confirmed cases compared to tests, the highest in history
As the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) ‘omicron mutation’ has become the dominant species in Korea, a level of COVID-19 epidemic that has never been experienced has arrived. The number of new confirmed cases on the 25th is expected to be around 9,000 for the first time since the outbreak of COVID-19. The quarantine authorities will partially ease the quarantine standards starting on the 26th, considering that there is a risk that social functions may be paralyzed if the number of confirmed cases and close contacts increases at once. However, it is pointed out that the medical system should be strengthened quickly rather than constantly changing the quarantine guidelines.
○ Concerns about an explosion of confirmed cases due to Omicron’s dominance
On the 24th, the Central Quarantine Countermeasures Headquarters (Bangdaebon) raised the nationwide Corona 19 risk by one level from the previous week (medium) to ‘high’. Last week (16th-22nd), the detection rate of Omicron mutation was 50.3% nationwide, becoming the dominant species for the first time. Last week, the ratio of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Korea was 3.0%, the highest since the spread of COVID-19. Experts believe that the number of confirmed cases will rise unprecedentedly for the time being.
According to the quarantine authorities, the omicron mutation has a lower fatality rate than the delta mutation, but spreads rapidly. On this day, Bang Dae-bon announced that the fatality rate of the Omicron mutation in Korea was 0.16%. This is one-fifth of the delta variation (0.8%). It is similar to measles (0.1-0.3%) and higher than influenza (flu, 0.1%). The omicron mutation was stronger than the delta mutation, which infects one person and infects 12 more people and infects 6 or 7 more people.
Jung Eun-kyung, director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said, “Omicron mutations have a low individual risk, but the transmission power is two or three times stronger than delta mutations, so the scale of social damage may be greater.” Commissioner Jeong said, “To prevent the aggravation of the elderly and the job vacancy of the young and middle-aged, please give them a third dose of the vaccine and wear a KF80 or higher mask if possible.”
○ If you wear a mask, do not isolate even contact ‘2m, 15 minutes’
The government is gradually loosening the quarantine guidelines in preparation for an explosion in the number of confirmed cases. On this day, Park Young-joon, head of the epidemiological investigation team at Bang Dae-bon, said, “From the 26th, even if you talked to a confirmed person within 2 meters for 15 minutes or more, if you wore a KF94 or KF80 mask properly, you will not be classified as a close contact.”
The quarantine authorities also shortened the management and quarantine period of close contacts. For now, close contacts who have completed COVID-19 vaccination must undergo ‘manual monitoring’, and those who have not been vaccinated must self-isolate for 10 days. This will be shortened to 7 days in total from the 26th. The quarantine period for those who have been vaccinated among confirmed COVID-19 patients will be reduced from 10 days to 7 days, and the isolation period for unvaccinated people living with home-treated patients will be reduced from 17 days to 14 days.
○ “If 20,000 people are confirmed a day, there is a risk of poor home treatment”
The government has decided to focus its DNA amplification (PCR) testing capabilities on high-risk groups nationwide, such as those aged 60 or older, from next week as early as next week. A healthy person under the age of 60 can undergo PCR testing only if the self-test kit or rapid antigen test is positive.
Minister of the Interior and Safety Jeon Jeon said on the 24th, “We will expand the number of at-home treatment management medical institutions to 400 at the end of this month, so that up to 60,000 home-treated patients can be accommodated.” However, at this level, it is diagnosed that there is insufficient preparation for the increase in the number of at-home treatment.
Quarantine experts estimate that there will be about 20,000 new confirmed cases a day due to the Lunar New Year holiday. Jeong Jae-hoon, professor of preventive medicine at Gachon University College of Medicine, said, “If 20,000 people are confirmed a day and are quarantined for 7 days, a treatment system that can handle a total of 140,000 patients every day is needed. Considering that there are about 40,000 beds secured so far, the at-home treatment capacity should be able to handle at least 100,000 people, and more is needed in the long run.”
Correspondent Cho Kyeon-hee becom@donga.com
Reporter Lee Ji-woon easy@donga.com
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