S. Korea expert defends use of rapid tests as omicron surges

Individuals carrying face masks stroll on the road close to the Pyongyang railway station in Pyongyang, North Korea, Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022. The purple banner says, "Implementation of choices of the Forth Plenary Assembly of the Eighth Central Committee of Staff' Celebration of Korea.

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SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s high infectious illness professional defended the transfer to develop using speedy testing regardless of accuracy issues, because the nation broke its day by day coronavirus file for the third straight day.

The 14,518 confirmed new circumstances Thursday have been 1,500 greater than Wednesday and about double the circumstances reported on Monday, illustrating a tidal wave of infections pushed by the extremely contagious omicron variant.

The surge, which may proceed for weeks, has left well being authorities scrambling to reshape the nation’s pandemic response, resembling treating a bigger variety of gentle circumstances at house and shortening quarantine intervals.

Officers are additionally pushing forward with a extra controversial plan to rewire the testing regime that had been centered round gold customary PCR exams and develop using speedy antigen kits that will probably be made accessible at public well being places of work, testing stations and pharmacies.

In keeping with the brand new coverage that will probably be enforced nationwide in February, PCR exams will now be largely saved for individuals of their 60s and older or these with pre-existing circumstances. Most individuals will probably be requested to attempt a speedy check equipment first and request PCR solely when these exams are constructive.

Some docs’ teams have opposed the plan, saying that speedy exams aren’t delicate sufficient to reliably detect infections. They are saying officers ought to as an alternative take steps to develop the capacities for PCR exams, that are extra correct however require enormous numbers of pros administrating nasal and throat swabs and high-tech machines analyzing samples.

Jeong Eun-kyeong, commissioner of the Korea Illness Management and Prevention Company, acknowledged the shortcomings of speedy exams, however stated it was inevitable for the nation to avoid wasting its PCR capacities for high-risk teams.

She admitted that transmissions may worsen if those that check false detrimental continued to enterprise out in public. She pleaded for individuals to proceed carrying masks and exercising precaution after detrimental exams and check out one other check equipment in the event that they expertise signs.

“Primarily based on the traits of omicron, we might attain the boundaries of our testing capability if infections dramatically improve. We have to choose and select the place to make use of that restricted capability, which might be for individuals 60 years or older or high-risk teams susceptible to infections,” Jeong stated throughout a briefing.

Omicron has grow to be the dominant variant globally and extra simply infects those that have been vaccinated or had COVID-19 beforehand. However vaccination and booster photographs nonetheless present robust safety from severe sickness, hospitalization and loss of life.

Greater than 85% of South Korea’s greater than 51 million individuals have been totally vaccinated and greater than half the inhabitants have acquired booster photographs. Nonetheless, there are issues that a sudden explosion in infections may overwhelm hospitals and trigger disruption at workplaces and important companies by always putting enormous numbers of individuals underneath quarantine.

Jaehun Jung, a professor of preventive medication on the Gachon College Faculty of Drugs in Incheon, stated South Korea’s omicron surge will probably proceed for 5 to eight weeks, and that the nation may see day by day circumstances of over 100,000.