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As of December 7, 580 new confirmed cases were confirmed in Korea and 35 cases of overseas influx were confirmed. The total cumulative number of confirmed cases so far is 38,161.
Currently, 8,311 people are in quarantine treatment and 126 people have severe gastric disorders. There were 4 deaths yesterday and the cumulative death toll was 549. I wish the deceased’s blessings and wishes to the grieving family with a word of deep comfort.
I will explain the current status of the main domestic outbreaks of the previous day. Regarding the restaurants in Jongno-gu, Seoul, 36 additional cases were confirmed during the contact investigation, and the total number of confirmed cases so far is 112.
Regarding Dongdaemun-gu Hospital in Seoul, an additional 17 cases were confirmed during the contact investigation, and a total of 42 cases have accumulated so far. Regarding the sauna in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, five more were confirmed during the contact investigation, and a total of 27 confirmed cases so far.
Regarding the pub in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, three more people were confirmed during the contact investigation, so there are a total of 48 confirmed cases. Regarding the Nam-gu Nursing Hospital in Ulsan, an additional 76 cases were confirmed during the contact investigation, bringing the cumulative number of confirmed cases to 92.
Seven additional cases were confirmed during the quarantine related to the practice of Jang-Oral in Busan and Ulsan, for a total of 194 cases. If you need additional data on other events, we will explain them in detail through the Spokesperson’s office after the briefing.
It is now the largest crisis situation since the influx of Corona 19 into Korea, and the current epidemic is not a temporary, regional situation, but an ongoing one, at the national level. Mathematical modeling from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and various think tanks suggests that if the current trend continues, there will be between 550 and 750 new patients every day this week, with the potential of more than 900 patients all. the days next week.
As the number of new patients increases, so does the number of people with severe gastric disorders. During the last week, the mean number of patients with severe gastric disorders was 101, an increase of 26.3% compared to 80 in the previous week.
Currently, the reproductive rate of infections is 1.23 and the number of patients is continuously increasing. After strengthening social distancing, the amount of movement has decreased by more than 20%, but the trend of decreasing patients is unclear.
In particular, the trend of the metropolitan area is an analysis that it has entered a full-blown pandemic stage and consequently, as of tomorrow, the metropolitan area has implemented 2.5 steps to severely restrict social activities.
If we don’t break the fad with a hiatus now, it could expand into a national pandemic, and in that case, there will be only one last step left to limit our social activities.
Furthermore, above all, if the total size of the patients increases, the medical system will be paralyzed and the treatment of seriously ill patients with Corona 19 will be interrupted. It becomes inevitable.
The current situation is entering a pandemic. The biggest problem when entering a pandemic is getting a bed, especially an intensive care unit. Protecting and maintaining the medical system paralyzed by the pandemic is the most important strategic objective, and we will do everything possible to solve it.
It is judged as the most important crisis moment in this way. There are currently three improvement strategies. First, we will further enhance our epidemiological investigation capabilities.
Even now, the work of quarantine personnel and epidemiological investigation personnel is very heavy, and the burden increases as the number of patients increases. As the number of cases in which the path of infection is not confirmed is increasing as the number of patients currently increases, support personnel who can support epidemiological investigations in the short term are seen to improve the situation and In the long term, more actively secure epidemiological research personnel with sufficient capacity. I will do it.
Second, we plan to dramatically expand our testing capabilities. The biggest obstacle to expanding testing so far was not the lack of test kits or reagents, but the difficulty of collecting samples.
To overcome this problem, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) have been verifying a saliva testing method that can be easily tested in front-line medical institutions since September, and they have confirmed very high accuracy. to complete it.
We will supply them sequentially starting next week so they can be conveniently inspected. In addition, we will actively introduce antigen tests that can be immediately verified in the medical field.
In particular, since it has the advantage of being able to diagnose even without separate diagnostic equipment, it is very useful in emergency rooms and remote areas, and is considered very useful in screening tests in nursing hospitals.
Third, there is the adjustment of the confirmed patient quarantine criteria for efficient use of quarantine beds. Until now, Korea has been enforcing the world’s strictest quarantine release standards to prevent Corona 19, but the efficiency of the bed’s operation has been low.
However, taking into account the current growing number of patients, we have reasonably relaxed the criteria for release from quarantine based on scientific evidence and expert opinion. Meanwhile, as a criterion for clinical release, a three-day clinical observation period was passed 10 days after initiation, but this was changed to follow-up observation for 1-2 days within 10 days.
As a criterion for cancellation by examination, negative was confirmed twice in a row at 24-hour intervals after 7 days after confirmation, but the standard was changed to 2 consecutive times at 24-hour intervals instead of the elapsed standard of 7 days.
However, in all cases, the decision of the treating physician to flexibly operate the cancellation standard was respected. Additionally, we will secure additional isolation beds and critically ill beds to prepare for the surge in patients.
I regret to emphasize the importance of keeping your distance from people who have made great efforts since the beginning of the year and have participated in the quarantine. However, now is a time that requires action rather than hesitation.
Currently, we can beat it with our efforts at the time of crisis when the largest COVID-19 patient occurs. We sincerely ask that you keep your distance and abide by the quarantine rules that have become common practice for the upcoming period.
And if you are not comfortable, I would like to ask you to take the test as soon as possible for everyone’s safety. Although the peak is unpredictable, the current epidemic can be reversed dramatically depending on how we practice defending life without meetings.
During the next three weeks, we hope that every effort will be made to prevent victimization of high-risk groups and preserve medical resources by reducing the scale of infection. It is also possible to minimize the damage to the self-employed only when the number of patients is reduced.
It will be the end of the year when there are many places where the lights are off, but I believe that the current crisis can be overcome and overcome with the brilliant solidarity of the people who have shown each crisis. Quarantine authorities will also try to curb the outbreak with the highest level of tension.
