Ultimately 13,012 People... Uncontrollable After Seol Holiday

Turning Point in Omicron Response System
Surpassing '7,000 Weekly Average Local Cases'

Rapid Antigen Self-Testing Allowed at Screening Clinics from 29th

On the 26th, when 13,012 new COVID-19 cases were reported, an increase of 4,400 cases in just one day, the number of confirmed cases was displayed on the monitor in the COVID-19 situation room set up at Songpa District Office in Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporters Kim Hyewon and Lee Chunhee] The number of new COVID-19 cases has suddenly surpassed 13,000. As record-high numbers of confirmed cases continue to emerge daily, the government will expand the Omicron response system nationwide starting from the 29th by using rapid antigen self-test kits at 256 screening clinics across the country.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of midnight on the 26th, the number of new COVID-19 cases was recorded at 13,012. This is an increase of 4,441 cases compared to 8,571 the previous day, and 2.24 times higher than the 5,804 cases reported on Wednesday the 19th, the previous week. The weekly average of locally transmitted cases reached 7,880.7, about 1,000 more than the previous day, surpassing the government’s threshold of a weekly average of 7,000 cases as the turning point for switching to the Omicron response system.

The government has decided to begin the nationwide transition to the Omicron response system on the 29th. Moving away from the existing ‘3T (Test, Trace, Treat)’ strategy, the focus will shift to early diagnosis and treatment of high-risk infection groups. Accordingly, at the 256 screening clinics nationwide, the existing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests will be conducted only for priority groups such as seniors aged 60 and above and those with epidemiological links, while the general public will be tested using rapid antigen self-test kits. After the Lunar New Year holiday, on the 3rd of next month, the system will be further expanded to include designated local clinics in addition to the 431 respiratory-specialized clinics nationwide.

As the number of isolated individuals is expected to surge due to the spread of Omicron, the measure to shorten the isolation period by 7 days to prevent social paralysis has been implemented nationwide starting today.

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on the same day, "If either you or your parents have not completed the third vaccination during the Lunar New Year holiday period, I earnestly request that you postpone meetings."

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