Kwon Deok-cheol "Lifting Quarantine Pass for Study Rooms, Large Mart, and Cinemas... Omicron Expected to Dominate by Weekend" (Update)

Mandatory Mask Wearing and Facilities with Low Droplet Emission

Omicron Variant Detection Rate Soars
26.7% Domestic, 94.7% Imported Cases Surge

Kwon Deok-cheol, 1st Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Minister of Health and Welfare) / Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] Following consecutive court rulings halting the implementation of the vaccination certificate and negative test confirmation system (vaccine pass), health authorities have decided to suspend the vaccine pass not only for controversial large supermarkets and study rooms but also for movie theaters and museums. Regarding the rapidly spreading Omicron COVID-19 variant, which is showing an increasing detection rate, it is expected to become the dominant strain by the weekend.

Kwon Deok-cheol, the 1st Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) and Minister of Health and Welfare, presided over the CDSCH meeting on the morning of the 17th and stated, "We plan to lift the vaccine pass for facilities where masks can be worn at all times and activities that emit droplets are minimal," adding, "Facilities such as private academies, study rooms, museums, movie theaters, and large supermarkets fall into this category." Deputy Minister Kwon added, "The scale of the outbreak is decreasing, and medical capacity has increased," and "Considering the principles of quarantine and the acceptability of the system, it is necessary to ease the vaccine pass for facilities with low risk."

This measure appears to take into account the recent series of court decisions that have halted the vaccine pass. On the 4th, the Seoul Administrative Court's 8th Division (Presiding Judge Lee Jong-hwan) issued a suspension order on the enforcement of the vaccine pass for private academies, study rooms, and study cafes. Then, on the 14th, the 4th Division (Presiding Judge Han Won-gyo) suspended the effectiveness of the vaccine pass for large supermarkets and department stores over 3,000㎡ in Seoul and also suspended the vaccine pass for all 17 types of facilities for adolescents aged 12 to 18. Regarding this, Deputy Minister Kwon said, "Confusion has arisen between regions due to conflicting court rulings, so adjustments are necessary," and added, "We intend to improve the scope of facilities subject to the vaccine pass and exceptions by reflecting voices from the field and the current quarantine situation to minimize public inconvenience."

As the court has suspended the enforcement of the quarantine pass measures applied to stores, marts, and department stores over 3,000㎡ in Seoul, citizens are entering a large mart in Seoul on the 16th using QR check-in./Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister Kwon warned of the rapid spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant. He said, "According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's analysis model, the dominance of Omicron is predicted around this weekend," and "The displacement of Delta by Omicron and its becoming the dominant strain is just around the corner."

According to authorities, the domestic detection rate of the Omicron variant has surged to 26.7%, more than double the previous week's 12.5%. Notably, among confirmed cases imported from abroad, a staggering 94.7% were identified as the Omicron variant. It is analyzed that the variant is rapidly spreading in the Gyeonggi and Honam regions through cluster infections among foreign nationals, including the U.S. Forces Korea. The U.S. and the U.K. have already surpassed a 95% detection rate of Omicron, and Japan also saw a sharp rise to 84% last week.

Deputy Minister Kwon expressed concern, saying, "Experts predict 20,000 confirmed cases and 2,000 severe cases by March," and warned, "If we respond poorly, we could follow the path of other countries experiencing paralysis of the healthcare system and disruptions in social functions such as education, childcare, transportation, and firefighting." Accordingly, authorities plan to maintain existing social distancing measures except for expanding limits on private gatherings and will implement special quarantine measures during the Lunar New Year holiday period.

Deputy Minister Kwon urged the public to receive the third dose vaccination and comply with quarantine rules to curb the spread of Omicron. He emphasized, "Omicron infections will concentrate among unvaccinated individuals such as adolescents and those whose vaccination validity period has expired," and added, "Compared to those with two doses, individuals who have received the third dose have their severe illness and mortality rates reduced to half and one-third, respectively, which is why the third dose is necessary before Omicron becomes widespread."