S. Korea expected to log another day with more than 300,000 new cases of COVID-19

오후 9시까지 전국서 30만1544명 확진… 전문가용 신속검사 양성도 확진…가족 확진돼도 등교 가능 We begin with the Omicron surge in South Korea. New daily COVID-19 infections in the country hit an all-time high of close to 400-thousand a couple of days ago. Monday's tally isn't expected to be that high, but it'll still be in the 300-thousand range as Omicron spreads at a blistering pace. Despite the ongoing surge, South Korea has been steadily easing its restrictions and several changes to its prevention scheme, including virus screening, come into force today. For more, we have our Han Seong-woo in the studio. Good morning Good morning. Happy to be here. So Seong-woo, give us the latest tally of daily infections? We'll know for sure when the official numbers come out, Mokyeon, but it's likely we'll be seeing three consecutive days in the three hundred thousand range... perhaps between 310 and 320-thousand. Through 9 PM, Korea time, Sunday, health authorities recorded 301-thousand-544 new cases nationwide.. down nearly 36-thousand compared to the same time on Saturday but one-point-five times as many compared to the same time the previous Sunday and well more than twice the amount seen just two weeks ago. Health authorities predict the Omicron surge will reach its peak sometime before March 22nd... possibly even this week. Along with the rapid rise in cases comes an increase in the number of severely ill patients and fatalities. Government data reveals that the two tallies last week each saw a one-point-four and one-point-five times increase compared to the week before it. The virus-related deaths were one-thousand-348 lives last week... two-point-five times as many as between February 20th and the 26th. To focus healthcare workers' time on those who need the most help, the government is changing the way COVID-19 patients are screened. That's right, Mark. From today, to free up medical resources for testing, rapid antigen test results conducted by medical professionals at local hospitals or clinics will be accepted for official purposes. That means the results will be have the same validity as PCR tests in confirming COVID-19 infections... relieving citizens who test positive via rapid antigen tests of the need to stop by a screening center and wait long lines to get PCR tested. The decision comes as data showed almost 95 percent of people who tested positive through a rapid antigen test tested positive with a PCR test as well. The change will allow those over 60 to be prescribed with the oral COVID-19 treatment, Paxlovid, just with proof of a positive rapid antigen test. Seong-woo, regarding students at school,... starting today, they will be able to go to class even if a family member's infected. That's true. Students and teachers who live with someone who has COVID-19 can still go to school starting today. Instead of entering self-isolation, they're advised to receive PCR tests within three days of their family member testing positive,... before taking a rapid antigen test on the sixth or seventh day. Let me also mention that also on Monday, health authorities will announce specific vaccine plans for children aged five to eleven. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety last month approved the use of Pfizer's vaccine for the age group at a dosage level that's one-third the amount given to adults. Health officials say they're going to start with minors at high-risk... such as those with weak immune systems. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency says they took into account studies confirming the vaccine's effectiveness in preventing infection and serious illness even among young children. The development comes amid a rise in positive tests among children. Alright Seong-woo, we appreciate the report. We'll see you back in the studio tomorrow. Thank you. #COVID19 #Coronavirus #SouthKorea 📣 Arirang News(Facebook) :   / arirangtvnews   📣 Arirang News(Twitter) :   / arirangtvnews   📣 News Center(YouTube) :    / newscenter_arirangtv   2022-03-14, 08:00 (KST)