381 Imported COVID-19 Cases, Highest Ever... Dominant Variant Expected by End of This Month

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The number of overseas-imported COVID-19 confirmed cases reached a record high of 381 on the 12th, accelerating the spread of the Omicron variant domestically.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of midnight on the day, the number of new overseas-imported COVID-19 confirmed cases was 381, an increase of 97 from the previous day. This is the largest number since the overseas-imported COVID-19 cases began to be recorded. The previous record was 309 on July 22 last year, when 270 confirmed cases from the Cheonghae Unit deployed in African waters were classified as overseas-imported cases at once.

In particular, among the total 886 overseas-imported confirmed cases in the first week of January, 781 cases (88.1%) were Omicron variant cases, and the domestic Omicron variant detection rate also recorded double digits for the first time (12.5%), indicating that the Omicron variant is becoming dominant. The health authorities expect the Omicron variant to become the dominant strain domestically by the end of this month.

On the same day, Jeon Hae-cheol, the 2nd Deputy Director of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety), said, "The Omicron variant has become the dominant strain worldwide, and its detection rate is rapidly increasing domestically as well," adding, "In the situation where concerns about the spread of the Omicron variant are growing, the government will thoroughly prepare response plans in areas such as quarantine, medical care, and treatment."

Deputy Director Jeon emphasized, "We will increase the capacity of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing from the current 750,000 tests per day to about 850,000 tests per day and expand the scope of rapid antigen testing," and added, "We will also promote the improvement of the patient information system to enable rapid and accurate patient classification."

He stated, "We will link multiple information systems, which are currently operated separately at each stage of epidemiological investigation and patient history management, centered on the ‘medical information system’ of public health centers nationwide, and integrate and utilize patient data." He also mentioned plans to stabilize the home treatment-centered medical response system by expanding the use of private courier companies for delivering home treatment kits to patients under home care.

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