Government: "Temporary Declaration of Endemic Status Is Uncertain"
The scene of Hongdae Street in Seoul. The government announced that it is preparing a response system suitable for the 'post-Omicron' period. [Photo by Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kang Wooseok] As the Omicron variant pandemic shows a declining trend recently, the government is preparing a response system suitable for the post-Omicron period, that is, after the current pandemic.
As of midnight on the 6th, the daily new confirmed COVID-19 cases dropped to 286,294, falling back to the 200,000 range for the first time in about a month. The number of confirmed cases has been decreasing over the past two weeks, and the number of critically ill patients is also gradually declining.
The government plans to fully promote the 'post-Omicron response system,' including the complete lifting of social distancing measures, if this downward trend continues. The main goal is to pursue a phased return to normalcy in social, economic, and medical sectors.
Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said on the 6th, "If the current decline is maintained stably and the medical system has capacity, we will prioritize discussions on lifting social distancing measures that cause significant socio-economic damage. We need to shift the focus from a highly costly and sacrificial special medical system to a more inclusive and routine response system."
Currently, the government is considering lowering the infectious disease classification of COVID-19 from the highest level 'Level 1' to 'Level 2,' which includes diseases like tuberculosis and chickenpox. Accordingly, they are also reviewing shortening the isolation period for confirmed cases and lifting mandatory isolation.
Regarding social distancing, the government is considering lifting most restrictions except for indoor mask-wearing starting from the 18th, when the current measures expire.
Additionally, to expand face-to-face treatment for COVID-19 patients, the government has increased the number of 'outpatient treatment centers,' and from the 6th, home treatment patients can directly receive prescriptions at pharmacies.
However, the government maintains that the 'post-Omicron response system' does not immediately lead to an 'endemic' declaration. An 'endemic' refers to an infectious disease becoming established as a common illness like the flu.
Son Young-rae explained on the same day, "Endemic is an academic term with a very broad conceptual definition. Whether an endemic declaration can be made at a specific point in time is currently uncertain, and I think it will be difficult for the time being. The post-Omicron response system can serve as an opportunity to transition social distancing and quarantine management into a more normalized system, so that regulations that excessively infringe on freedom in workplaces and daily life and were not routine can become normalized."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
