Just as everything was slowly going back to normal like the pre-pandemic days, the new variant of COVID 19, Omicron, has set regulations again creating new travel bans and restrictions around the country. More specifically, in South Korea, the government has decided that every traveler coming into the country has to be quarantined for 10 days no matter what their vaccination status is and which country they came from. 

According to the World Health Organization, the variation was first detected in South Africa and has now spread to 57 nations, including South Korea. The first Omicron virus case was confirmed on December 1st, and since then, Omicron cases have been increasing in tandem with COVID instances. Korea is currently going through one of its most critical periods with the virus, as the number of cases is rapidly increasing. They suggest their message to Korean citizens to obtain their first dose of the vaccination, or for some, their third booster injection, through their new and modified social distancing guidelines.

Even though scientists are still unsure whether the variant is more contagious or deadlier than other variants, they do believe getting the third booster shot will “reverse the crisis the community is facing.” However, the booster shots are only available for 18 years and older. The Korean government has been shortening the months for people that are eligible for the booster shots as it first started as six months but now is only three months. Recently, on the 10th of December, Korean researchers have developed a test where it can detect the new variant in just 20 minutes. The regular PCR test, also known as the swab test, is very efficient for COVID testing but has been facing difficulties detecting the Omicron variant. With the new testing method, many are hoping it can be used effectively so then social gathering regulations can be more flexible again, especially during the upcoming holiday season. 
 

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