Coronavirus: South Korea tops 100,000 cases again; Malaysian study finds ivermectin ineffective for Covid-19 treatment

Omicron surge continues in South Korea as country’s infection total tops 100,000 cases for second straight day

Meanwhile, Malaysian researchers have found that anti-parasite drug ivermectin does not prevent patients with Covid-19 from becoming severely ill

Reading Time:3 minutes

A medical worker in protective gear directs a man after taking a nasal swab at a Covid-19 testing centre in Seoul. Photo: AFP

Published: 3:50pm, 19 Feb 2022Updated: 3:54pm, 19 Feb 2022

South Korea reported 102,211 coronavirus cases on Saturday, topping the 100,000 mark for a second-straight day, though down slightly from the record level reported on Friday.

Infections have spiked as the Omicron variant ravages the country. Cases have now doubled since South Korea first surpassed 50,000 infections on February 10.

Despite the increase in cases authorities said that social distancing measures would be only slightly eased ahead of the March 9 presidential election.

A health worker wearing protective gear directs people at a Covid-19 testing centre in Seoul on Friday. Photo: AFP

Authorities announced on Friday they would move a curfew on restaurants and cafes from 9pm to 10pm, a nod to increasing criticism from business owners.

Other anti-pandemic rules such as a six-person cap on private gatherings, a seven-day quarantine for international arrivals, mask mandates in public spaces, and vaccine passes for a range of businesses, will be in place until at least March 13, officials said, after the election.

Malaysian study finds ivermectin doesn’t help Covid-19 patients

Malaysian researchers have found that treatment with the anti-parasite drug ivermectin did not prevent patients with Covid-19 from becoming severely ill in a randomised clinical trial published in the JAMA Internal Medicine journal on Friday.