The government has decided to release the quarantine pass (inoculation certificate/voice confirmation system) for facilities with low risk of transmission of COVID-19, such as tutoring schools, reading rooms, museums, movie theaters, and large marts.
Deok-cheol Kwon, the 1st deputy director of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Minister of Health and Welfare), said in a remark at a major headquarters meeting today (17th), "The government has lifted the quarantine pass for facilities where masks can be worn at all times and there is little saliva discharge activity. I plan to do it,” he said.
Deputy Director Kwon said, "Now, compared to December (last year), when the quarantine pass was expanded, the scale of the epidemic has decreased and the medical capacity has increased." He explained that there was also confusion between the two and that maintenance was necessary.
The 4th administrative division of the Seoul Administrative Court decided on the 14th to suspend the quarantine pass for teenagers and large marts and department stores in Seoul. .
Deputy Director Kwon said that details regarding the cancellation of the quarantine pass will be announced at the 11 am briefing, and that the system improvement regarding the scope of exceptions and penalties for the quarantine pass will be decided as soon as possible.
Deputy Director Kwon explained that last week, the domestic Omicron mutation detection rate was 26.7%, more than double the 12.5% the previous week.
Next, he predicted that the Omicron mutation is rapidly spreading in Gyeonggi-do and Honam area through group infection of foreigners such as the USFK.
Deputy Director Kwon emphasized that “If we respond incorrectly, we can follow the path of other countries that are suffering from paralysis of the medical system and social dysfunction such as education, care, transportation, and firefighting.” I did.
He said that he will spur the securing of hospital beds for severe cases of COVID-19 and the completion of the home treatment system.
He also said, "The overall rate of tertiary vaccination in Korea is about 45%, but the rate of tertiary vaccination for foreigners is only 27%."
Deputy Director Kwon said, "Omicron infection is expected to be concentrated in those who have not been vaccinated, such as adolescents, and those who have passed the expiration date of the vaccination."
Deputy Director Kwon said, "Only 6% of adults, unvaccinated, account for 30% of confirmed cases and 54% of deaths and critically ill patients. , decreases to a third level."
(Photo = Yonhap News)