<Anchor> The
number of new confirmed cases of Corona 19 is expected to record another record, with more than 52,000 already confirmed at 9 pm on the 11th.
As the number of confirmed cases is rapidly increasing, the price of rapid antigen test kits is also rising, but the government is actively managing its distribution.
This is the report by Park Jae-hyung.
<Reporter>
A pharmacy in Seoul.
The self-propelled rapid antigen test kits secured here this month are only about 400 servings.
[Pharmacist: They keep saying they are out of stock, and you can say that they are all sold out as soon as they come in.
Not all pharmacies sell this at wholesalers.
There are pharmacies that do not accept kits.]
In the case of one box containing two kits, the level is between 16,000 and 20,000 won at pharmacies, but there are many places that cost more than 30,000 won online.
The government has decided to completely ban the online sale of self rapid antigen test kits from the 17th.
If the price continues to rise, we decided to consider introducing a price cap.
They also announced that they would significantly increase the supply, releasing a total of 70.8 million units within this month and an additional 190 million units next month.
The Ministry of Education plans to distribute free rapid antigen test kits to 3.3 million kindergarteners and elementary school students as early as the 21st.
Meanwhile, the government also hinted at the possibility of an earlier adjustment in relation to the current social distancing, which ends on the 20th.
[Lee Ki-il / Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters 1st Controller: Comprehensively judging the epidemic situation, seriousness, and death rate.
.]
In addition, 2nd Vice Minister of Health and Welfare Ryu Geun-hyuk, who was a major participant in the quarantine authorities meeting, was confirmed yesterday afternoon, and employees who had close contact with Vice Minister Ryu received an emergency rapid antigen test.