Prime Minister Kim: "Suspected Cluster Infection at US CES... Quarantine Must Be Thorough"

Committee for Daily Life Recovery Support

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Son Seon-hee] Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said on the 12th, "Many people who recently attended the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in the United States are suspected of having a cluster infection," adding, "There should be more thorough measures at the quarantine stage."

On the same day, Prime Minister Kim chaired the Daily Recovery Support Committee meeting at the Government Seoul Office and said, "I ask public officials to cooperate with self-quarantine if they feel even the slightest abnormality." About 70 domestic company officials who attended CES held recently in Las Vegas, USA, tested positive for COVID-19.

Prime Minister Kim said, "The risk of Omicron has already been confirmed in several countries," adding, "Since the first Omicron case was reported in late November last year in our country, it has rapidly replaced the Delta variant, accounting for 12.5% of domestic cases in just a month and a half. Experts also expect Omicron to soon become the dominant strain."

He continued, "Although Omicron has a relatively low severity rate, its transmissibility is about two to three times higher, so we believe we are now facing a completely different opponent than before," emphasizing, "This is why we must innovate the entire current quarantine system based on speed and efficiency." He added, "A comprehensive reorganization must be proactively carried out from quarantine to diagnostic testing, epidemiological investigations, securing hospital beds, medical response including treatment of confirmed cases, and vaccination."

Regarding the introduction of Pfizer's oral treatment drug into Korea starting from the 13th, Prime Minister Kim said, "It is expected to further reduce the severity and mortality rates." He also said, "The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety will make the final decision today on the approval of Novavax's recombinant antigen vaccine," adding, "Although it has been somewhat delayed compared to expectations, if approved, we will have another vaccine option, which will help increase the vaccination rate."

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