<Anchor> The



number of additional COVID-19 cases has decreased slightly from the previous day, but it is still close to 170,000.

The quarantine authorities predicted that it would reach its peak in the middle of next month with around 250,000 confirmed cases per day.

The government has decided to send 4,000 civil servants and military personnel to help the health centers that have reached their limit.



First of all, this is reporter Park Jae-hyun.



<Reporter>



The timing and scale of the peak of the Omicron epidemic is divided even among experts.



From the 28th of this month to the 22nd of the next month, the daily number of confirmed cases varies from 200,000 to 370,000.



Combining these opinions, the government's peak forecast is around 250,000 people per day in the middle of next month.



[Kim Bu-gyeom / Prime Minister: What is clear is that we are approaching the apex.

The peak is a little faster than expected. I can say this.]



Due to the explosion of confirmed cases, the public health center is already overloaded with work.



[Health Center Staff: I can't go home until 1 am or 2 am.

Even if I go out in the morning and do it, it doesn't end.

I can't finish it.

I ca n't finish it.]



3,000 central government officials and 1,000 military personnel will be dispatched to public health centers across the country next week in preparation for an increase in the number of confirmed cases.



In addition to text messages, it has been decided to send text messages twice about medical consultation methods and living rules to home healers.



This is in response to complaints that home therapists are being neglected.



The number of patients with severe severe cases increased rapidly, reaching 600 in about 40 days.



70% more than a week ago.



As a result, the daily death toll rose by 92, and the weekly death rate increased by 84% from the previous week.



The operation rate of critically ill beds is around 40%, and the government is explaining that there is still room to spare.



However, as the number of medical staff increases, the gap in treatment is a problem.



[General Hospital Doctors: Because there is a shortage of doctors and nurses because teachers who can see critically ill patients and who can install ventilators have to see it.]



The government quarantines only three days after the medical staff has completed the third vaccination, If they are asymptomatic, they will be allowed to return to work without testing.



(Video coverage: Park Young-il, Video editing: Kim Jun-hee)