PM calls for adjusting infectious disease level of COVID-19

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum / Yonhap

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum asked health officials Wednesday to consider adjusting the infectious disease level of COVID-19 to better cope with surging cases.

The coronavirus is currently classified as "Class 1 infectious disease," the highest in the four-tier classification that includes diseases such as Ebola and the Middle East respiratory syndrome.

The Class 1 infection diseases require high-level procedures, such as negative pressure isolation, and immediate reporting on the outbreak.

But some doctors have pointed out it is difficult to meet response measures required for Class 1 infection diseases as daily COVID-19 cases are over 400,000, while most treatments are currently carried out by small clinics that do not have enough medical resources.

"To better deal with COVID-19 under our response system, I ask the health authorities to start discussing adjusting the infection disease level of COVID-19 with the medical community," Kim said.

The health authorities recently allowed virus patients hospitalized with minor symptoms to receive treatment at general hospital wards in a move to focus their medical resources on reducing the numbers of seriously ill COVID-19 patients and deaths.

Citing experts, Kim said the current COVID-19 wave driven by the Omicron variant is expected to pass its peak soon.

Kim said the government will also announce its decision on social distancing measures Friday. (Yonhap)