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On the afternoon of the 4th, immigrants receive guidance from quarantine officials in the arrivals hall of Terminal 1 at Incheon International Airport. Quarantine authorities officially mentioned the possibility of a fourth pandemic from March to April caused by the mutant virus. News 1
As the threat of the mutant virus COVID-19 looms, quarantine authorities are deepening their pains. In many countries, the spread of mutant viruses has become a “predominant species”, but in Korea resistance to high intensity quarantine measures is increasing. Even vaccination, which is the only hope to end the situation, is not as fast as expected, and the quarantine authorities are at the beginning of an amnesty.
Mutant virus, from 18 countries
According to the Central Defense Countermeasures Headquarters (Bang Daebon), the number of new confirmed cases of corona19 in Korea at 0 o’clock on the 7th was 372, keeping 300 units for three consecutive days. Compared to the peak of the 3rd epidemic, which registered around 1,000 people, the number of new confirmed cases has entered a phase of total calm, but the number of new confirmed cases has not decreased drastically.
The problem is that the number of cases of foreign mutant virus infection, which has a stronger spread than the existing virus, is increasing rapidly. The day before, Bang Dae-bon announced that it had confirmed 12 additional mutant viruses infected in the country. There were 10 cases in the UK and 2 cases in South Africa, with 51 confirmed cases of the domestic cumulative mutant virus.
In particular, an estimated 18 countries have introduced mutant viruses. As such, mutant viruses are spreading around the world, making it difficult to prevent a further influx of mutant viruses into Korea unless borders are closed. In the case of the British and South African mutations, the power of propagation is known to be 1.5 times greater, and there is great concern that it could be another spark of reproliferation.
Sohn Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division, Accident Control Headquarters, said in a regular briefing held that day, “The mutant virus is spreading more and more rapidly abroad, and it is seen to be it is becoming a dominant species. “” It will expand further to arrivals to the country.
High intensity quarantine measures for three months …
The government response cards to prevent the spread of the mutant virus are largely “maintain a high-intensity quarantine” and “speed up vaccination.” But in both cases, things are changing. The metropolitan area continues to enforce intensive quarantine regulations, such as the ban on private meetings with more than 5 people and social distancing in step 2.5, but it is not easy to carry out until after the Lunar New Year holidays.
Finally, the day before, the government announced the relaxation of some quarantine measures, including the maintenance of operational restrictions for multipurpose facilities in the metropolitan area after 9:00 p.m., but extending from one hour to 10 a.m. pm in areas outside the capital. He took a step back from the position that if the night business were allowed, private meetings, including alcohol, would increase, potentially increasing the spread of Corona 19.
However, the reaction is increasing and focuses on the self-employed in the metropolitan area excluded from this easing measure. As of midnight on this day, some freelancers and small business owners in related industries who oppose government measures to maintain trade restrictions after 9 pm in the metropolitan area, such as restaurants, computer cafes, coffee shops and coin-operated karaoke rooms are scheduled. to protest against the quarantine. They plan to continue the ‘illuminated demonstration’ for three days, where the store lights up even after 9 o’clock, and if there is no change in quarantine authorities after 9 o’clock, they plan to decide whether to “dispute business” afterwards. 9 o’clock.
When is the first vaccination?
The goal of building herd immunity through corona 19 vaccination also took an emergency. The government aims to complete the first vaccination of 70% of people by September and build herd immunity by November at the latest. However, it is pointed out that the inoculation rate must be higher for the formation of herd immunity when the mutant virus with high transmission power is spread.
To increase the vaccination rate, more vaccines should be given earlier, but the date of the first vaccination has not yet been confirmed. The government has announced that it will begin vaccination from “mid-February”, but the specific delivery schedule for Pfizer vaccines that will arrive through the “Cobox Facility”, a global vaccine joint purchasing organization, has yet to be decided. An official from the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said: “Cobox’s decision-making system is complex and slow.” The AstraZeneca vaccine, which is scheduled to begin inoculation in February along with the Pfizer vaccine, remains controversial, including the question of its efficacy against the mutant virus that follows the elderly.
Eun-mi Chun, professor of respiratory medicine at Ewha Women’s University Mokdong Hospital, said: “It is important whether the spread can be reduced to about 100 new confirmed patients one day after the Lunar New Year holidays.” The risk of spread will increase. . ”
Yu hwan-gu reporter [email protected]
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