Slowing the increase in the number of confirmed cases, managing the severity and death The government is reviewing the early easing of social distancing while the domestic Corona 19 epidemic is heading towards its peak.
The government decided to maintain the distance of '6 people, 10 o'clock' for three weeks from the 19th of last month to the 13th of this month, but the fatality rate fell sharply despite the increase in the number of confirmed cases due to the spread of the Omicron mutation, while the damage to the self-employed and others The policy adjustment was made in accordance with the judgment that it is growing.
As the government decided to collect opinions from various fields such as the self-employed, the medical community, and local governments for two days starting today (2nd), there is a possibility that the plan to adjust the distance will be finalized and announced at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting to be held on the 4th at the earliest.
Sohn Young-rae, head of the social strategy division of the Central Accident Resolving Headquarters (heavy Subon), said at a regular briefing on the same day, "The increase in the number of confirmed cases is slowing compared to the previous week. I think we can do it,” he said.
Regarding the pattern after reaching the peak, he added, "It is difficult to predict clearly, but whether the number of confirmed cases will decrease rapidly or gradually will need to be watched a little more at the peak and the situation after that."
Based on this judgment, the government plans to hold a meeting of the Daily Recovery Support Committee on the 2nd to 3rd and review the early adjustment of the current 'social distancing'.
Director Sohn said, "Considering Omicron's rapid propagation power, we believe that strengthening the distance to block the spread of the epidemic is ineffective." "We are focusing on minimizing the damage," he said.
He continued, "Today and tomorrow, the Daily Recovery Support Committee and its subcommittee on quarantine and medical treatment will be held to evaluate the current quarantine situation and collect opinions on the need to adjust the distance," he said. We will listen to and discuss various opinions from the self-employed and small business owners,” he said.
Prime Minister Kim Bu-gyeom also said at a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Corona 19) presided over at the government complex in Seoul, "We gathered discussions on the need for adjustment from the perspective of the Omicron response goal while closely analyzing the current quarantine situation regarding social distancing. We will go out,” he said, suggesting the possibility of adjusting the distance.
Measures can be taken to ease restrictions on business hours or number of private gatherings at multi-use facilities even 13 days before the end of the current social distancing.
If the distance is eased early, it will effectively lift most of the major framework of the government's quarantine policy along with the temporary suspension of the quarantine pass implemented from the previous day.
He said that if the expert's rapid antigen test results are positive, discussions are currently underway on how to determine it as a confirmed case.
Director Sohn said, "The positive prediction rate of rapid antigen test has also risen considerably as the confirmation rate has risen along with the spread of the epidemic. there," he said.
He replied, "Especially when the medical staff specializes in testing, the accuracy of the rapid antigen test is quite high."
On the other hand, it was announced that a separate management system was being operated in relation to the point that the protection effect for vulnerable facilities such as nursing hospitals and nursing facilities was reduced due to the complete cancellation of the quarantine pass (inoculation certificate, voice confirmation system) the previous day.
Director Sohn said, "Convalescent hospitals, nursing facilities, and senior welfare centers are vulnerable to infection and are centered on the elderly, with a high fatality rate, and are operating a separate protection and management system. It is either banned or only non-face-to-face programs are being operated.”
However, the government encouraged those who completed the basic vaccination and those who did not receive the third vaccination, emphasizing that vaccination can greatly reduce the risk of infection and the seriousness and fatality rate even when the quarantine pass is suspended.
(Photo = Yonhap News)