723 Severe Cases, Consecutive Daily Record High
Omicron Suspected Patients' Results Possibly Tonight
Government "Will Adjust Quarantine Measures If Spread Continues"
On the 1st, the number of new COVID-19 cases reached a record high of 5,123, displayed at the 24-hour Integrated Safety Situation Room of Songpa District Office in Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] The number of new COVID-19 cases reached a record high of 5,123 on the 1st. Concerns are rising that the worst-case scenario could unfold as the possibility of the Omicron variant entering the country grows.
Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said in an interview on CBS Radio’s ‘Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show’ on the morning of the 1st that the suspected case of Omicron variant imported from Nigeria "differs from the usual patterns confirmed" and that "there are signs suspected to be Omicron." Although detailed test results have not yet been released, since the case shows different characteristics from existing variants, the likelihood of it being the Omicron variant is high. This comes just one day after Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum expressed concern that "if Omicron enters, it may be difficult to manage the current situation."
The government announced the previous day that it suspects a couple in their 40s living in Incheon, who returned on the 24th after visiting Nigeria from the 14th to the 23rd of last month and tested positive the following day, may have been infected with the Omicron variant. Among their contacts after returning, their son (a teenager) and one acquaintance (a man in his 40s) also tested positive.
PCR tests for the variant genes on the acquaintance showed positive results in regions common to Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Omicron variants, while negative results were found in the mutation sites specific to the Delta variant, classifying this as a suspected Omicron case. Authorities have secured samples and are conducting whole genome sequencing analysis. Results are expected as early as the evening of the same day.
The couple completed their Moderna vaccinations on October 28. They experienced breakthrough infections less than a month after vaccination. Concerns about Omicron’s immune evasion capabilities are inevitably growing. Moderna CEO St?phane Bancel also predicted on the previous day (local time) that "existing vaccines may not be as effective against the Omicron variant as they are against the Delta variant."
On the 30th of last month, overseas arrivals were waiting at Terminal 1 arrivals hall of Incheon International Airport. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@
Park Soo-hyun, Senior Secretary for Public Communication at the Blue House, appeared on the ‘No Young-hee’s News Is’ program on the News Tomato YouTube channel on the same day and said, "This issue was raised at the special quarantine inspection meeting chaired by President Moon Jae-in on the 29th of last month, and the review of adjustments to quarantine measures has already been completed," adding, "If the number of Omicron cases increases, there may be large-scale adjustments to quarantine measures."
Park added, "Opinions on the Omicron variant are currently divided. Some say it has high transmissibility, but experts also suggest that the risk itself is not significant," and "At this point, it is difficult to make assumptions about the risk, so we must share information and take swift, proactive measures."
The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight on the same day, the total number of COVID-19 cases increased by 5,123 to 452,350. This is the first time daily cases have exceeded 5,000. The number of critically ill patients rose to 723.
The intensive care unit bed occupancy rate rose to 78.8% as of 5 p.m. the previous day. In the metropolitan area, 89.2% (637 out of 714 beds) are in use, with Seoul at 90.7%, Incheon at 88.6%, and Gyeonggi at 87.6%. Daejeon and Sejong have all beds fully occupied. Jeon Hae-cheol, 2nd Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety), said, "We are mobilizing all administrative resources to secure necessary beds as early as possible," and "We will secure more than 1,300 additional beds by mid-month."
The number of patients waiting for beds decreased for the second consecutive day to 842, while the number of home treatment cases increased to 10,174. Authorities stated that while cohabitants of home treatment patients are prohibited from going out to work or school, they are allowed to go out for essential needs such as purchasing daily necessities. Son explained regarding concerns about infections from this, "We have no choice but to accept the risk."
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