Jeon Hae-cheol "Decision on Full Conversion of Infection Grade by End of May... Continued Outdoor Mask Wearing to Be Decided in Early May"

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[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The government announced that under the 'Post-Omicron Response Plan,' it will focus medical resources primarily on high-risk groups and thoroughly prepare for variant virus responses. After sufficient implementation phases, a decision will be made by the end of May on whether to fully lower the infection level rating. Additionally, the operation of the local festival review and approval system, which has been applied to festivals with more than 300 participants, will be temporarily suspended.

On the 20th, Jeon Hae-cheol, the 2nd Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) and Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, stated in his opening remarks at the CDSCH meeting, "We will proceed after a sufficient four-week implementation phase, and after evaluating the implementation level and having thorough communication with local governments and the medical community, we will make a final decision by the end of May on whether to fully transition. As a considerable number of local festivals are expected to resume, the operation of the local festival review and approval system for festivals with more than 300 participants will be temporarily suspended, and infection control will be conducted mainly through guidance and education."

He added that the decision on whether to continue wearing masks outdoors will also be made in early May. Deputy Head Jeon explained, "After a detailed evaluation of the quarantine situation and a process of gathering expert opinions, we will decide in early May whether to continue wearing masks outdoors."

Furthermore, the government is considering supplying Evusheld, an antibody treatment, to immunocompromised individuals who have difficulty forming antibodies through vaccination. It will also establish standards for ventilation facility installation in medical institutions vulnerable to infection and explore financial support measures.

Deputy Head Jeon said, "We will further strengthen rapid initial response conditions to prevent spread when infections occur in high-risk facilities. We will conduct vaccinations for the unvaccinated, administer the fourth dose to those aged 60 and over and residents of nursing hospitals and facilities, and consider supplying Evusheld to immunocompromised individuals."

Meanwhile, the government has confirmed three types of recombinant variant viruses?XL, XE, and XM?domestically and plans to accurately analyze the characteristics of these recombinant variants, such as transmissibility and severity, to prepare response measures. In particular, monitoring of overseas occurrences and domestic presence of variant viruses will continue.

Deputy Head Jeon stated, "The infection reproduction number, which indicates the potential for spread, is 0.78, remaining below 1 for three consecutive weeks. Therefore, the current downward trend from the fifth week of March to the second week of April is expected to continue. Although the number of critically ill patients has decreased to the 800s since April and the utilization rate of severe care beds is steadily declining, infections continue in daily life. Therefore, please strictly adhere to basic quarantine rules such as wearing masks, hand washing, and ventilation."

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