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Omicron propagates much faster than the conventional delta mutation. If the rate of spread is fast, the number of patients can increase dramatically in a short period of time.



Reporter Park Soo-jin continues.



<Reporter>



Currently, there are 514 epidemiological investigators working across the country.



It has increased slightly compared to three months ago, but it is far insufficient compared to the rapidly increasing number of confirmed cases.



[Metropolitan epidemiological investigator: I do not have time to track cell phones and CCTV like before. Because there are so many.] In



Incheon, where Omicron infection is concentrated, there are close to 30 infected people and hundreds of people are subject to tracking and management. There is.



Compared to the rapid propagation of Omicron, I am also concerned about the delay in contact classification and isolation.



Even if a confirmed person is immediately isolated after PCR test, the number of people transmitted before isolation is much higher than that of the delta mutation, and when it is confirmed by omicron, it is highly likely that a chain infection has already occurred.



[Kim Dong-hyun / Dean of the Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hallym University: In fact, it seems that (epidemiological investigation) is not following. If Omicron becomes the dominant species instead of 20 to 30 (infected people) as it is now, it will be difficult to respond with the current system. The number of confirmed



cases will

increase rapidly.] The

quarantine authorities are also aware of this situation.



[Lee Sang-won / Head of Epidemiological Investigation and Analysis Team, Central Quarantine Countermeasures Headquarters: It is true that the epidemiological investigation is very difficult.

Even rapid expansion (of epidemiological investigators) is actually difficult.

We want to block infection first with a system that preemptively identifies patients before epidemiological investigations.] The



quarantine authorities also encourage foreigners living in Korea to get vaccinated, as the proportion of foreigners who have not received the vaccine among Omicron infections is high. I'm looking for a way.



We are also discussing ways to strengthen quarantine rules for religious facilities with the religious community.



(Video editing: So Ji-hye, CG: Seo Hyun-joong, Im Chan-hyeok)



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