<Anchor>



The number of additional COVID-19 cases reached nearly 220,000, the highest number ever.

Authorities predicted that there would be 230,000 confirmed cases per day around the week after the presidential election, but that time has been moved up by about a week.

Even under this circumstance, the government hinted that the current social distancing could be lifted earlier than planned.



First news, this is reporter Park Soo-jin.



<Reporter> The



rate of increase in the number of confirmed cases also exceeded the government's expectations this time.



The government expected that 230,000 people a day would come on the 9th, the day of the election, but it is already close to 220,000.



It was expected that the peak of the trend would be within 1 to 2 weeks at the earliest, faster than originally expected.



The reason is that the rate of growth has slowed down even though the increase has continued.

[Sohn Young-rae/Chief of Social Strategy Division, Central Accident Remediation Headquarters: As of today, the rate of increase in the number of confirmed cases



is slowing compared to the previous week, but we believe that we will be able to make a clear judgment after monitoring the situation this week.]



There were 762 people, and the number of deaths the day before was 96, which is still on the rise.



The utilization rate of critically ill beds, which was in the 10% range a month ago, has also exceeded 50%, but the government thinks that there is still enough room for medical response.



Furthermore, he hinted at the possibility of easing the restrictions on 6 private gatherings and 10 p.m. business early.



It is said that the announcement could be made around this Friday by collecting opinions even 13 days before the current social distancing end date.



[Kim Bu-gyeom/Prime Minister: While closely analyzing the current quarantine situation regarding social distancing, we will gather discussions on the need for adjustment from the perspective of the Omicron response goal.



] It is not enough to prevent it, but the damage to the self-employed is growing.



Now, the key goal is to minimize the severity and death rather than contain the confirmed cases, which is why we are considering easing the distance.



The government is still encouraging people to get vaccinated, saying the vaccine is the most powerful weapon.



However, there does not seem to be a sharp way to increase the vaccination rate after the quarantine exemption and quarantine pass for those living with the confirmed person are suspended.



(Video coverage: Park Young-il, Kim Min-cheol, video editing: Kim Jong-mi, CG: Park Cheon-woong)



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