It has been predicted that Korea could be the first country in the world where Corona 19 will be transitioned to an endemic.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) of the United States reported on the 30th (local time) that Asian countries are shifting their response to thinking about how to coexist with Corona 19.
The WSJ noted that while South Korea sees three times more new cases per day per population than the peak recorded in the United States and the United Kingdom, measures to control the spread, such as social distancing, have been halted.
He also interpreted this choice as adopting a completely different strategy, rather than an unavoidable measure made because the spread of the virus could not be controlled.
"Health officials have recently determined that such a large outbreak was necessary," the WSJ explained.
"This is a test of health systems and populations that begins ahead of the new goal of downgrading COVID-19 from the most dangerous epidemic category," he said.
He also quoted health experts as saying that Korea could be the first country to emerge from the pandemic.
Monica Gandhi, a professor of medicine at the University of California, USA, predicted that "Korea could become the first country to cross over to the endemic."
As for the rationale for this prospect, he said, "Korea has one of the highest rates of adult vaccination, trust in its public health system, and well-equipped means to overcome the pandemic."
High vaccine dissemination for the prevention of seriously ill patients, a stable health system for the treatment of seriously ill patients, and a response system such as testing, tracking, and isolation in preparation for a new pandemic have been mentioned as general conditions for effectively ending a pandemic.
Coexistence strategies are being pursued not only in Korea but also in other Asian countries.
Singapore, which maintained the strictest quarantine regulations in the region, has the highest number of new confirmed cases in history, but has gradually turned to easing regulations.
Singapore lifted the requirement to wear an outdoor mask and abolished quarantine for vaccinated entrants when the proportion of the vaccinated population reached 92%.
Australia, which took a super-strong measure to block borders during the pandemic, also withdrew it despite a surge in the number of confirmed cases, and decided not to make PCR testing compulsory for inbound travelers.
Japan also lifted the remaining restrictions last week as infections from the omicron mutation, the dominant species for COVID-19, have decreased.
(Photo = Yonhap News)