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The number of new corona patients in Korea has fallen to the 10,000 level in 104 days.

Based on this decline, the government will announce on Friday (20th) whether or not the quarantine obligation will be abolished if confirmed.

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Professor Baek Kyung-ran of Samsung Seoul Hospital has been appointed as the new government's head of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.



Correspondent Park Jae-hyun.



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Until recently, it took three to four hours to visit the emergency room at this hospital.



All of the patients visiting had to undergo a PCR test and wait for a negative result.



Recently, if the rapid antigen test is 'negative', treatment is possible immediately.



[Kim Pil-seong / Director of Seoul Bumin Hospital: (about 15 minutes) The self-kit test comes out immediately, so hospitalization is possible right now.]



Once you enter the 'settlement period' for daily recovery set by the government, this process is not necessary.



During the settlement period, the duty to isolate confirmed patients will also disappear.



Initially, the government planned to switch to the stable phase from next week, but after the new government was launched this week, we will announce the transition period to the stable phase on the 20th by examining the opinions of experts and the situation in the field.



The medical field says we still need to be prepared.



[Kim Pil-seong / Director of Seoul Bumin Hospital: Currently, there are not enough medical institutions that can provide face-to-face treatment at local hospitals.

I need to check the infection control conditions, but I think the government's establishment of medical guidelines at local hospitals is the priority.]



Recommendations to be followed by confirmed cases should also be established after the quarantine obligation is lifted.



Guidelines are required, such as wearing a mask, refraining from going out, and whether to go to work.



There is a possibility that the lifting of the quarantine obligation will be delayed because more preparations are still needed.



The Prime Minister, the Minister of Health and Welfare, and the quarantine commander, who are the policy makers, are also vacant.



However, it was confirmed that Baek Kyung-ran, a professor at Samsung Seoul Hospital, was appointed as the first head of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under the new government.



(Video coverage: Kim Hak-mo, video editing: Park Ji-in)