The highest number of new confirmed cases today… Switching to Omicron’s quarantine system from tomorrow

As the number of confirmed cases has soared due to the emergence of the dominant species of the Corona 19 micron mutation, the number of new cases in Korea is expected to record a record high as of 00:00 on the 25th.

As of 9 p.m. the previous day, 7,437 people had tested positive for COVID-19 in 17 cities and provinces across the country. This is the first time that more than 7,000 confirmed cases have occurred during this time period.

Accordingly, as of 00:00 on the 25th, the number of new cases is expected to record the highest ever. The previous record for new daily confirmed cases was 7,848 on the 15th of last month. Looking at the recent trend, it is also expected that the number of confirmed cases in the 9,000 range may exceed 8,000 for the first time in history.

Omicron recorded a detection rate of 50.3% last week (16th to 22nd), confirming that it has become the dominant species in Korea.

With the dominance of Omicron, which transmits more than twice as fast as the delta mutation, experts predict that the number of new cases in Korea will exceed 10,000 within this week and then show a rapid increase before reaching a peak at the end of next month.

The government decided that it was impossible to focus on all the rapidly increasing number of confirmed cases, so the government decided to start the ‘Omicron response stage’, a new quarantine system that focuses on the early diagnosis and treatment of high-risk groups.

In the Omicron response stage, the gene amplification (PCR) test is only performed on high-risk groups, such as the elderly over 60 years of age, and close contacts. People who are not in the high-risk group can undergo PCR testing only when the rapid antigen test or self-test kit is positive.

The government plans to implement this diagnostic test system first in four cities, including Gwangju, Jeonnam, Pyeongtaek, and Anseong, on the 26th, and expand it to the whole country at the end of this month at the earliest. The four cities, including Gwangju, are the regions where the dominance of Omicron began first.

From the 26th, the self-quarantine period will be shortened and adjusted in all regions of the country.

If a confirmed COVID-19 patient has been vaccinated, he/she only needs to self-isolate for 7 days instead of the current 10 days.

Completed vaccination refers to a person who has not passed 90 days since the second vaccination or 14 days have passed since the third vaccination.

Those who did not receive the vaccine, those who received only the first dose, or those who had even received the second dose but did not receive the third dose in time should be quarantined for 10 days if confirmed.

If a person who has completed vaccination has had close contact with a confirmed person, he or she is exempt from quarantine. Instead, they are subject to passive surveillance, which must refrain from indoor activities and private gatherings for seven days. Currently, close contacts must self-isolate for 10 days regardless of their vaccination history.

Those who do not meet the criteria for completion of vaccination, such as those who have not been vaccinated, must self-isolate for 7 days when they are classified as close contacts.

The quarantine period for overseas entrants will be maintained for ’10 days’ until the 3rd of the next month according to the current overseas entrants management policy. The government is expected to announce whether or not to adjust the quarantine guidelines for overseas arrivals early next month.

The government plans to complete the ‘Omicron response stage’ system by preparing a system that can diagnose and test COVID-19 at local hospitals.

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