방역당국 "중증환자 대비 렘데시비르 22명에 투약" ...공적마스크 12일부터 폐지<br /><br />South Korea has used remdesivir on 22 patients in critical condition, the effects of which will be known in several days.<br />And as the supply of face masks has stabilized in the country, South Korea will be getting rid of its mask rationing system... starting next week.<br />Kim Ji-yeon has more on COVID-19 situation in the country.<br />South Korea reported 44 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday... bringing the total number of cases to 13-thousand-181.<br />Among the new cases, 24 contracted the virus overseas... a higher number than that of local transmissions.<br />This is the second straight day the number of new infections grew by less than 50... which marks a slowdown in new cases compared to last weekend, where the number of daily cases remained above 60... due to a number of cluster infections.<br />The Central Disease Control Headquarters said that remdesivir, an experimental drug conventionally used for Ebola, has been given to 22 coronavirus patients in critical condition.<br />Authorities believe the drug, developed by U.S. pharmaceutical giant Gilead Sciences, could help lower the fatality rate of patients as well as shorten patients' recovery periods.<br />"In the case of remdesivir, which has been specially imported as a cure for COVID-19, its supply to 22 critically ill patients in 15 hospitals is complete. The drug's effectiveness on the patients is still being observed, we'll release the details at a later date."<br />The rationing of face masks, which was implemented in February, is due to end next Sunday... as the supply of masks has stabilized.<br />Under the rationing system, people were originally allowed to buy two masks a week... at a price of less than two U.S. dollars per mask. That limit was later raised to ten masks a week.<br />Kim Ji-yeon, Arirang News.<br />
