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Here’s the initial COVID-19 update for the new year.
The surge in newly diagnosed infections, which had been escalating rapidly, is now gradually subsiding.
Experts anticipate the Omicron variant will be the dominant strain in 2022.
Current social distancing guidelines, initially slated to conclude this weekend, have been extended for a further fourteen days.
Now, let’s hear from our field correspondents about the New Year’s Day atmosphere in the city.
Reporter Jung Young-hoon!
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Reporting live from Hongdae, Seoul.
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It’s the first day of the year and the first weekend; are the streets bustling with activity?
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This area is typically teeming with people, given the concentration of restaurants and eateries.
As you can observe, despite it being New Year’s Day, pedestrian traffic is lighter than a typical weekend.
The current restrictions, limiting private gatherings to four individuals and mandating a 9 pm closing time for restaurants and cafes, appear to be contributing to the reduced crowds, in addition to the chilly weather.
The social distancing measures, previously scheduled to end this weekend, have been prolonged for an additional two weeks, until the 16th.
The lack of festive celebrations following the New Year and the extension of restrictions have led to widespread disappointment among small business owners.
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“The ‘With Corona’ era has been incredibly challenging. We’re slowly recovering, but this extension dashed any hopes we had, leaving us feeling despondent…”
Health officials attribute the two-week extension to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, which transmits two to three times faster than the Delta variant.
With 220 additional confirmed Omicron cases, the total has increased to 1,114, surpassing the 1,000 mark in a mere 32 days.
This is more than double the speed of the Delta variant, which took 78 days to reach the same cumulative number.
Despite the recent decline in new infection counts, and the nationwide ICU bed occupancy rate hovering around 60% for three consecutive days (currently at 63.6%), health authorities have reinforced quarantine measures for the new year.
Starting next Monday, a six-month validity period will be implemented for vaccination passes, rendering those exceeding six months from the second dose invalid.
Furthermore, the vaccination pass mandate will be extended to department stores and hypermarkets beginning on the 10th.
The government emphasizes that this extended two-week period is crucial for shaping the future course of the pandemic, urging citizens to avoid large gatherings and participate in the booster vaccination program.
Reporting live from Hongdae Street, this is Jung Young-hoon, MBC News.
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Camera work: Byung-soon Yoon / Video post-production: Ji-eun Kwon
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