S. Korea on Wednesday sees record-high COVID-19 figure at 90,443

신규확진 '폭증' 90,443명... 오늘부터 해열제 등 재택치료자 처방약, 모든 동네약국서 조제 South Korea today reported a big surge in new cases of COVID-19 more than 90-thousand. The authorities still think this number is going to rise much higher before it comes down. But while trying to contain the virus, they're also planning to ease the distancing rules as much as possible. Shin Ye-eun has this report. South Korea on Wednesday saw yet another all-time high number of new COVID-19 infections. This time, the daily tally jumped more than 30-thousand... to reach 90-thousand 4-hundred 43. The number of critically ill patients remained in the 3-hundreds for the third straight day. Health experts say that, based on how fast Omicron is spreading right now, daily figures could be in the 200-thousands by early next month. Amid the rising cases, authorities are set on easing social distancing measures. Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum on Wednesday first apologized to the public for enduring the ongoing pandemic. He added that authorities will come up with new guidelines this Friday. "We will try to contain Omicron with new measures while alleviating as much economic and social damage as possible." The measures most likely to change are the six-person limit on social gatherings, which could be increased to eight people,... and the 9 PM restrictions on restaurant and cafe operating hours, which could be extended to 10 PM. To roll out their Omicron-tailored prevention measures as planned, authorities have COMPLETELY BANNED online sales of self-test kits from this Wednesday. People can only purchase a maximum of FIVE kits at convenience stores and pharmacies. To make sure these places have enough stock... the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said they would distribute enough kits for 6-point-7 million people. They will be supplied to some 51-thousand 400 convenience stores, nationwide. The Ministry of Education has also announced on Wednesday that they would provide more than 60 million rapid antigen test kits to all students and staff from kindergartens up to high schools... free of charge. The ministry recommended all students test themselves twice a week... preferably on Sunday and Wednesday night. All staff are being asked to test themselves once a week before the week day starts on Monday. Students and staff should then share their results with their schools... using the self-test kit app. Those who test positive, need to get a PCR test. Also from this Wednesday, people will have easier access to COVID-19 medication. Those looking after people being treated at home can now pick up their medication from any pharmacy. Previously, they had to go through designated COVID-19 pharmacies. However, Paxlovid,... will still only be available at 4-hundred 72 official dispensaries. Shin Ye-eun, Arirang News. #COVID19 #infection #treatment 📣 Arirang News(Facebook) :   / arirangtvnews   📣 Arirang News(Twitter) :   / arirangtvnews   📣 News Center(YouTube) :    / newscenter_arirangtv   2022-02-16, 17:00 (KST)