"Omicron Becomes Dominant Variant"…Detection Rate 80%, Confirmed Cases Reach Record High

As of the 29th, a record high of 17,349 cases
Omicron detection rate at 80%... First domestic case of Stealth Omicron
Full-scale Omicron response system to be launched from the 3rd

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] As the domestic Omicron detection rate surpassed 80% for the first time in five weeks, the weekly COVID-19 risk level remained at 'high' nationwide, in the metropolitan area, and in non-metropolitan areas.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 31st, the domestic Omicron detection rate for the fourth week of January (January 23?29) was 80%. This is an increase of 29.7 percentage points in one week. While the domestic detection rate was only 4.0% in the fifth week of December, it exceeded 50% in the third week of January, becoming the dominant strain, and then surged within a week. However, the severe case rate and fatality rate were 0.42% and 0.15%, respectively, significantly lower compared to the Delta variant.

Additionally, six cases of 'Stealth Omicron' were confirmed for the first time domestically. This is a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant, which has recently been increasing in detection in countries such as Denmark, the United Kingdom, and India. The Central Disease Control Headquarters explained that, so far, no distinctive characteristics different from the existing Omicron have been identified, and investigations are ongoing. Accordingly, since January, a total of 31 cases of Stealth Omicron have been confirmed domestically, including 25 imported cases.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Omicron Detection Rate 80%... Confirmed Cases Reach Record High of 17,349

The number of confirmed cases has sharply increased due to the Omicron variant. On the 29th, the number reached a record high of 17,349, exceeding 10,000 daily cases on a weekly basis. The weekly average daily incidence rate also rose to 22.9 per 100,000 population, more than five times higher than 4.1 in the first week of November.

The average daily incidence rate increased by more than 1.7 times compared to the previous week across all age groups, with over half of the total confirmed cases occurring in the age group of 20 and under. In particular, the incidence rate among 18-year-olds surged more than sevenfold from 14.5 in the second week of January to 105.1 in the fourth week of January within two weeks.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters stated, "As the number of confirmed cases increased by 130.2% compared to the previous week and the Omicron wave intensifies, there are risk factors such as the surge in confirmed cases, increase in cases among adolescents under 18, and continued infections in nursing hospitals and facilities."

However, the intensive care unit (ICU) bed occupancy rate decreased nationwide, in the metropolitan area, and in non-metropolitan areas due to an increase in secured beds and a continued decline in the number of severe patients. The national ICU bed occupancy rate has steadily declined from 56.9% in the first week of January to 18.6% last week. Nevertheless, as Omicron spreads and confirmed cases surge, the bed occupancy rates at infectious disease-dedicated hospitals and residential treatment centers, where mild patients are admitted, have increased.

Adverse Reactions Related to Vision Deterioration... "Causality Under Investigation"

Meanwhile, the Central Disease Control Headquarters explained that they are monitoring domestic and international situations regarding adverse reactions related to vision deterioration after the third vaccination dose and are investigating causality. Recently, actor Kang Seok-woo ended his radio broadcast, which he had been hosting for over six years, due to vision deterioration following the third COVID-19 vaccine dose, raising public interest in the causal relationship between vaccination and vision loss. According to the office of Assemblyman Kang Sun-woo of the Democratic Party, as of October 31 last year, 623 cases related to vision deterioration were reported among suspected adverse reaction reports.

Lee Sang-won, head of the Epidemiological Investigation and Analysis Division at the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said, "So far, there have been no reports from international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicating that COVID-19 vaccination causes vision deterioration," but added, "Since vision deterioration can have various causes, we are currently in the process of verifying the causality related to the vaccine."

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