The government has decided to respond to the recent Covid-19 resurgence without upgrading social distancing measures by increasing the use of oral medicines and protecting facilities vulnerable to infection.
Confirming that a Covid-19 resurgence is in progress, the Central Disease Control Headquarters stressed it would respond to the Covid-19 outbreak with its experience in responding to the summer epidemic.
As part of its plans, the government will introduce 200,000 doses of Paxlovid, initially scheduled for release in the first quarter of next year, in December to secure sufficient supply.
Also, to increase the prescription rate of oral treatments, each province will check the prescription rates of oral medicines for high-risk groups on a weekly basis and promote a public campaign.
For facilities vulnerable to infection, the government has formed specialized teams at each local government to actively protect such facilities by providing education about Covid-19 and quarantine training.
The seven-day mandatory quarantine for people infected with the virus and indoor mask mandates will also be in place until the virus situation becomes stabilized, the KDCA said.
Notably, health officials reiterated the need for citizens to participate in the winter vaccination using the new bivalent vaccine as many new Omicron subvariants have appeared since the last epidemic.
Authorities are currently conducting winter booster vaccinations using BA.1-based Moderna and Pfizer vaccines and the BA.4 and BA.5-based Pfizer vaccine.
Anyone 18 years of age or older who have completed the primary vaccination can receive the booster vaccination.
Despite the pleas of health officials, participation in the booster vaccination remains low, with the current rate standing at 3 percent of the total population as of Wednesday.
“This is because many people have completed basic vaccinations or have already been infected, and judge themselves to have immunity,” KDCA commissioner Peck Kyong-ran said. “Immunity acquired by infection or inoculation declines over time and will not help prevent infection against new variants.”
The elderly over the age of 60, residents and users of facilities susceptible to infection, and those with underlying diseases must receive a bivalent vaccine to prevent infection against Omicron variants, Peck added.
According to the KDCA, Korea added 62,472 new Covid-19 infections, including 42 cases from abroad, bringing the total caseload to 25,981,655.
The nation also reported 59 more Covid-19 deaths, raising the death toll to 29,479. The fatality rate stood at 0.11 percent. The number of critically ill patients came to 336, down 24 from the previous day.