South Korea’s Daily COVID Case Numbers Soars, but Government Lowers Quarantine Period to Seven Days
It looks like the omicron variant has become the dominant strain in South Korea now judging the by the increasing case numbers despite enhanced social distancing measures being implemented:
South Korea’s daily coronavirus cases on Sunday spiked to the second-largest figure since the pandemic outbreak, putting health authorities on alert amid the fast spread of the omicron variant.
The country added 7,630 new COVID-19 infections, including 7,343 local infections, raising the total caseload to 733,902, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
Sunday’s figure marks the second-largest tally since the daily record high of 7,848 on Dec. 15.
The daily tally surged at a fast pace last week from the 4,000 level to over 6,000 on Thursday and above 7,000 on Saturday, nearly doubling in less than a week.
Yonhap
You can read more at the link, but despite the increasing cases the Korean government has decided to lower the quarantine period from 10 to 7 days. This is arguably because too many people are being put out of work for too long thus impacting the economy.
Not exactly. With Omnicron strain taking over as the dominant strain, which produces milder symptoms compared to the previous strain, there is no need to be restrictive as before.
There is no need to be restrictive at all.
Everybody who can catch omicron is likely going to catch omicron. The ones likely to die or be hospitalized will likely become fewer and fewer.
The seven day quarantine is just a formality and indiscriminate testing needlessly pumps up the numbers and fear.
Bonus observation:
What is the difference between a “makeshift clinic” and a “temporary clinic”? What is the media trying to say with this new word choice?
In from Scotland, backing up similar data from England…According to Table 14 of this week’s “Public Health Scotland COVID-19 & Winter Statistical Report,” which shows the rate of infection over the past 4 weeks, the double/triple vaxxed are more likely to catch the virus, checking in at a rate of 865.79 per 100,000 and 481.49 per 100,000, respectively. In comparison, the unjabbed case rate is just 412.77 per 100,000. https://publichealthscotland.scot/media/11223/22-01-19-covid19-winter_publication_report.pdf