Although the number of tests decreased significantly due to the influence of the Christmas holiday, the number of confirmed cases was the second largest ever. Concerns are raised that the spreading trend has become stronger.
Holiday is not effective, review of the upgrade of the script meeting on the 27th
Kwon Deok-cheol, the first deputy head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Minister of Health and Welfare), is presiding over a major script meeting on the morning of the 26th. Photo provided by the Ministry of Health and Welfare
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the 26th, the number of inspectors on the 25th of Christmas was 3,58, down by 27,000 from the previous day (57,147). The number of inspectors at the temporary screening inspection center in the metropolitan area also decreased significantly compared to the 24th (63,931 people) to 33,993. However, the number of new patients on this day was 1132, the second most frequent. The fact that more than 1,000 patients appear even on holidays when the number of examinations decreases proves that the current epidemic situation is serious. This is the effect of a large number of patients being confirmed in nursing hospitals, churches, and detention centers, as well as new group outbreaks in everyday places such as workplaces, restaurants, and animal hospitals.
With the spreading trend seldom broken, the pressure to upgrade to the third stage is also increasing. Based on new patients per day, the criteria were met. However, at a briefing on the 25th, the government mentioned the possibility that the number of patients increased to 1,200 patients and that the related occurrence trend itself was not changed, but rather a temporary phenomenon.
Tae-ho Yoon, head of quarantine and prevention at the Central Accident Control Headquarters, commented on the rapid increase in patients. In the situation, it maintains the level of 900 to 1000 people. We believe that special circumstances need to be considered.”
Excluding the group infection at the Eastern Detention Center in Seoul, it is said that the outbreak of patients continues on a similar scale in keeping with the current trend. Rather, he evaluated that “it is positive that the sudden increase is suppressed and suppressed to within 1000 people.”
The government will comprehensively review the quarantine system and medical system capabilities, and the effect of special quarantine measures for the year-end and New Year period until January 3 of next year, and decide whether to upgrade on the 27th.
At a briefing on the 25th, Sohn Young-rae, head of Strategic Planning Division, Jung Soo-bon, said, “We believe that the capabilities to control infection are still maintained, and medical capabilities are currently being maintained to secure room for beds and to provide stable treatment. I said.
On the afternoon of the 20th, an official in a quarantine uniform is talking at the eastern detention center in Seoul where a group of corona19 confirmed cases occurred. Reporter Woo Sang-jo
Among experts, there is great disagreement on the three-step upgrade. It is known that the Living Prevention Committee held on the 22nd made an opinion that a significant number of experts should consider the damage caused by raising it to the third stage.
Kim Moran, a professor at the National Cancer Center, said, “When trying to reduce the number of corona patients, they were concerned that the number of deaths could increase in places that are not visible for reasons such as livelihoods. “It’s dangerous to do it in three steps without sufficient preparation.”
“The current patient is the result of contact from 1 to 2 weeks ago, and there is also the effect of large-scale infections in certain groups such as nursing hospitals and detention centers. There is” he said.
According to the results predicted by Prof. Ki through modeling, etc., the current level of 1.16 infectious reproductive index (the number of other confirmed cases infected by one patient) is expected to drop to a maximum of 0.7 when the 3 stage is raised.
However, Professor Ki said, “Even if the infectious reproductive index goes down assuming that contact is reduced as much as possible, the number of patients is expected to be around 700 after two weeks.” Said.
On the afternoon of the 25th, citizens line up for examination at the temporary screening clinic at Seoul Station. Central photo
The government expects that the spread rate will decrease early next year through special quarantine rules during the year-end and New Year holidays.
Although the pace is slow, the Infectious Reproduction Index is gradually falling.
Professor Ki said, “Although the number of patients is not declining, the infectious reproduction index is decreasing little by little, and the movement is also decreasing,” he said. “It is also fortunate that the spread of the disease is preventing further increase through an anonymous test.” According to the authorities, a cumulative 1,140 confirmed cases have been confirmed so far through temporary screening offices operating in 150 places in the metropolitan area.
Reporter Hwang Soo-yeon [email protected]