Prime Minister Kim: "Oral COVID-19 Treatment to Be Introduced Domestically Next Week" (Update)

COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Meeting

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum is presiding over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting for COVID-19 response at the Government Seoul Office Building on the 7th. January 7, 2022. Photo by Yonhap News.

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Son Seon-hee] Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum announced on the 7th, "Oral antiviral treatments for COVID-19 will arrive in the country next week."

On the morning of the same day, Prime Minister Kim chaired the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting at the Government Seoul Office and said, "We will prepare quickly so that it can be used in medical settings."

Regarding the recent trend of COVID-19 cases, Prime Minister Kim evaluated, "There has been a clear decline in confirmed cases for two consecutive weeks," and "The intensive care unit bed occupancy rate in the metropolitan area has dropped below 60%, indicating a recovery in bed capacity."

However, Prime Minister Kim expressed concern, saying, "The Omicron variant is sweeping the world, and in just over a month and a half, our confirmed cases have already exceeded 2,300." He emphasized, "To manage the rapidly spreading Omicron, we must comprehensively innovate the current quarantine system from the perspectives of 'speed' and 'efficiency.'"

He added, "Epidemiological investigations require 'selection and concentration,'" and said, "Instead of tracing all infection sources, the government should focus its capabilities on areas with high risk of spread, and it is necessary to consider introducing citizen-participatory epidemiological investigations as proposed by the Committee for the Restoration of Daily Life." He continued, "Regarding diagnostic testing, priorities should be set so that those with a high likelihood of infection are tested quickly and accurately using PCR tests, while rapid antigen tests and others can be used complementarily in general cases."

In this regard, the government plans to hold a public forum led by the Ministry of Health and Welfare to begin discussions on reform measures.

Recently, the court accepted a suspension request for the enforcement of the 'quarantine pass,' leading to the suspension of its application in educational facilities such as academies and study rooms. The government has submitted an appeal to the court. Regarding this, Prime Minister Kim said, "If confusion and conflict surrounding the quarantine pass prolong, ultimately the public will suffer," and requested, "The court should promptly proceed with the appeal trial or the main judgment on the injunction."

Meanwhile, concerning the death of three firefighters during the fire suppression at a construction site in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province the previous day, Prime Minister Kim stated, "The government will carefully supplement policies for firefighter protection and fire prevention to prevent such tragic sacrifices from continuing." He added, "Once again, I offer my condolences to the deceased, their families, and fellow firefighters."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.