Prime Minister Kim: "Omicron confirmed cases more than double... Lunar New Year holiday will be a variable"

COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Meeting

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum is presiding over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting for COVID-19 response held at the Government Seoul Office Building on the 28th. January 28, 2022. Photo by Yonhap News.

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Son Seon-hee] Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said on the 28th, "The spread of Omicron is fierce. The number of confirmed cases has more than doubled compared to last week," adding, "The five-day Lunar New Year holiday starting tomorrow seems to be a variable that will determine the scale of the Omicron outbreak."

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, "Please refrain from traveling and meeting, such as visiting your hometown, as much as possible." He continued, "If it is unavoidable to go, please make sure to get tested before departure and after returning, and follow personal quarantine rules such as wearing a KF-80 or higher mask."

Prime Minister Kim also addressed the public sector, saying, "The public sector must set an example," and urged, "All public officials and employees of public institutions nationwide should take the lead in refraining from visiting their hometowns and traveling, and spend the Lunar New Year holiday calmly."

He said, "Starting tomorrow, rapid antigen tests will be available at any of the 256 screening clinics nationwide," and added, "From right after the Lunar New Year holiday, people will be able to get COVID-19 tests and treatment at nearby local clinics and hospitals." He emphasized, "The government's quarantine goal is clear: to minimize the social and economic damage by lowering the peak of Omicron as much as possible."

Meanwhile, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters reviewed the recent spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) and other livestock infectious diseases. Prime Minister Kim expressed concern, saying, "There have been 26 cases of AI so far, a 67% decrease compared to the same period last year," but added, "We cannot let our guard down as three cases have occurred consecutively at layer farms in Gyeonggi-do and Chungnam recently." Regarding African swine fever (ASF), he said, "There have been no further outbreaks on farms since October last year, but in wild boars, ASF detection areas are moving south to Danyang and Jecheon in Chungbuk, so the risk of spread remains."

Prime Minister Kim urged, "There is a concern that outbreaks of livestock infectious diseases may surge due to increased movement of vehicles and people during the Lunar New Year holiday," and asked, "Field sites such as farms should comply with quarantine rules and refrain from unnecessary movement."

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