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Due to the influence of Omicron, the number of corona patients is increasing explosively.

Yesterday (26th), the number of new confirmed cases exceeded 10,000 for the first time, and today it is expected to be around 15,000, about 2,000 more than yesterday.

The government has decided to introduce a new diagnosis and test system corresponding to Omicron across the country starting the day after tomorrow. 



Reporter Park Chan-beom reports.



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By 9 o'clock last night, the number of new confirmed cases nationwide was 12,410, more than 3,000 more than the same time the day before, the highest for three days.



Accordingly, the number of new confirmed cases to be announced today is expected to exceed 15,000.



The number of new confirmed cases yesterday was 13,12, which has already more than doubled from a week ago.



Omicron diffusion is faster than expected, but this is only the beginning.



The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) predicted that assuming that the transmission rate of omicron mutations is three times that of delta, the number of daily confirmed cases could reach 30,000 in the middle of next month and up to 120,000 by the end of next month.

[Kim Bu- gyeom



/Prime Minister: From now on, the top priority of quarantine is to reduce the number of severe cases and deaths (rather than reducing the number of confirmed cases).]



to zoom in.



256 screening clinics across the country will conduct rapid antigen testing instead of PCR testing first, and from the 3rd of next month after the Lunar New Year holiday, local hospitals across the country will also participate in the diagnosis and testing of COVID-19.



These hospitals are in charge of not only testing for corona, but also treating and managing at-home healers.



On the 30th, Pfizer's edible drug 'Paxrovid' will add 11,000 additional doses to the 21,000 already introduced.