While worrying about’releasing distance’, even the mutant virus penetrates… “The possibility of the fourth epidemic increases”

Input 2021.04.06 16:05 | Revision 2021.04.06 20:34

The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus infection, which seemed to decrease while the government was considering easing social distancing due to concerns about the economic damage of self-employed people, has recently increased rapidly again. In addition, as the South African mutant virus infection case has occurred for the first time in Korea, there are growing concerns among quarantine experts that the corona ‘4th epidemic’ may come.

According to the central quarantine countermeasures headquarters on the 6th, the corona infection reproductive index last week recorded 1.07, surpassing 1 again in 3 months. The Infectious Reproduction Index is an indicator of how many people one confirmed person infects other people. The fact that this number exceeded 1 means that the corona spread is getting worse again.

Kim Bong-young, a professor of infectious medicine at Hanyang University, said, “Whenever the last three corona pandemic outbreaks appeared, the infectious reproductive index exceeded 1”. It means that it has been done,” he explained.

In the local community, more than 30% of confirmed patients who cannot determine the route of infection have increased as the number of’silent transmission’ caused by infected people with no symptoms or mild symptoms has increased. In addition, in the warm spring season, population movement between communities is increasing due to various gatherings and trips, and the number of new confirmed cases stagnated in 300 units has reached 500 in the last week as the group infection of people who used multi-dense facilities continues. Increased.

It is also adding to the severity of the situation that the spread of the mutant virus is not unusual due to the overwhelming attack. This is because a mutant virus from South Africa, which is not effective in preventing corona vaccine, has recently penetrated into the domestic community.

According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, five family members in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, were infected with the South African mutant virus earlier this month. It is the first case of infection in Korea. The South African mutant virus was not properly screened out during the overseas entry process and even entered the community. There are many stories that the number of foreign mutant virus infections in the UK and South Africa that has occurred in the last week has surpassed 40 for the first time, and the spread of the mutant virus is getting faster and faster. This is more than 10% of the total number of foreign mutant virus infections (330).

When the news that the government will announce a new’social distancing’ adjustment plan to be applied next week on the 9th, the medical community is arguing that quarantine measures should be strengthened right now, even to prevent the 4th outbreak. In particular, there are concerns that the government may be in a situation where it will be impossible to use its hands if the government responded to the North Korea as in last year due to the presence of a mutant virus variable.

Kim Woo-joo, a professor of infectious medicine at Korea University’s Guro Hospital, said, “Our main vaccine is AstraZeneca, but if the South African virus spreads in Korea, the AstraZeneca vaccine has no preventive effect. Likewise, only after the number of confirmed cases per day exceeds 1,000, the situation will not be controlled by raising the distance and taking measures to strengthen quarantine measures.”

Professor Kim also said, “It is similar to the situation when the third epidemic occurred in early December of last year, and I think that the first timing to stop the spread has already been missed due to the premature easing of social distancing.” There is a possibility that it has already spread to the community.” He added, “As it is now, if the government let go of its hands and neglect, there could be more than 2,000 confirmed cases a day,” he added.

On the one hand, there was also an opinion that it is necessary to enact new quarantine guidelines that can reduce social fatigue caused by the distancing policy.

Kim Bong-young, professor of infectious medicine at Hanyang University, said, “The situation has become more serious than last year, but people’s awareness of the vaccine has been greatly reduced.” This will fall,” he said.

Professor Kim emphasized, “From the perspective of quarantine, it is appropriate to increase the level of quarantine through a high-intensity distancing policy, but it is necessary to create a selective distancing policy that takes into account social fatigue as well to attract voluntary participation.”