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In Europe, where omicron mutations are widespread, the number of new coronavirus cases is breaking new records every day. As the number of confirmed cases skyrocketed and the medical system reached its limit, some countries are easing self-isolation standards.
Reporter Baek Woon.
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France, which has become the new epicenter of the spread of COVID-19 in Europe, once again recorded the highest number of new confirmed cases.
As of yesterday (5th), there were 332,252 new confirmed cases, breaking the previous record of 271,000 people the day before, again in one day.
[Olivier Verand/French Health Minister: Vaccines are effective in preventing infection, and fortunately we have a vaccine. Can you imagine what would happen if there were 300,000 confirmed cases a day in the absence of a vaccine?]
In Italy, 189,109 people tested positive for COVID-19, 18,000 more than the day before, the highest number on a daily basis. A new patient has emerged.
In the Netherlands, where a strong lockdown has been in place since the 19th of last month, with most shops and restaurants closed except for essential businesses, there were 24,500 new confirmed cases a day, a record high.
As the number of medical staff continues to increase amid the rapid increase in the number of confirmed cases, countries are easing quarantine standards one after another.
In the UK, where the number of self-quarantined people is close to 1 million, from the 11th, PCR test will be omitted for asymptomatic cases.
France is exempting health workers from quarantine if they are asymptomatic even if they contract COVID-19, and Germany is pushing for a plan to drastically shorten the quarantine period for hospital workers from 14 days to 5 days.