Government: "Establish Scientific Quarantine System Within 100 Days... Strengthen Air Quality Management in Schools and Kindergartens"

Formation of Expert-Centered Independent Committee and Establishment of COVID-19 Big Data Platform
Whether Post-Omicron Enters 'Stabilization Phase' to Be Announced by Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on the 20th

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] The government announced that it will swiftly establish a scientific quarantine system, including the construction of a big data platform. Guidelines for managing indoor air quality in educational and childcare facilities such as daycare centers will also be prepared.

Lee Ki-il, the 1st Chief Coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Vice Minister of Health and Welfare), stated in the opening remarks of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on the 18th, "The new government will establish a scientific quarantine system within 100 days of its launch to prepare for a resurgence."

The government plans to first form an independent committee centered on experts. This is to create a system where expert decision-making is reflected.

The construction of a COVID-19 big data platform is also included in the "scientific quarantine" efforts. Lee said, "Patient and treatment information scattered across various information systems will be integrated and linked into a 'big data platform' by December," adding, "This will lay the foundation for evidence-based quarantine policies based on data." Currently, surveillance, diagnosis, and epidemiological information are dispersed across several systems such as the COVID-19 Information Management System, and home treatment and living treatment information are in the Home Treatment Support System.

The government will also prepare measures to strengthen indoor air quality management in educational and childcare facilities such as kindergartens, daycare centers, and schools. Lee explained, "Although air purifiers have been installed in most schools and kindergartens nationwide to improve fine dust, their virus removal function is weak," adding, "We will verify effectiveness and safety through a consultative body among related ministries and prepare guidelines to support the installation of air purifiers." According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, on the 11th, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Ministry of Environment, and Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency formed a related consultative body, and discussions are ongoing.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters is expected to announce on the 25th whether to transition to the stabilization phase. Lee said, "We are comprehensively reviewing the recent infection trends, the possibility of a resurgence, the impact of new overseas variants, and the preparedness of the medical response system," adding, "After discussions with experts and related ministries, we will report through the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters this Friday."

Meanwhile, the quarantine authorities have decided to start a "large-scale antibody survey" from this month to confirm the scale of natural infections in the community and conduct risk assessments. The survey will target residents of 17 cities and provinces nationwide and will be conducted quarterly with a scale of 10,000 people each time.