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By Kim Hyun-bin

Companies are strengthening quarantine measures as the number of confirmed cases of the COVID-19 Omicron variant has surged out of control. More companies are expanding work-from-home policies as well as holding back on overseas business trips and meetings. Some businesses also distributed self-diagnosis kits to their employees over the Lunar New Year holiday.

Kakao has banned all employees from entering the company building until Feb. 18 excluding some unavoidable circumstances.

"If an employee needs to enter the building, they will have to receive prior approval from the head of the department to get access. In addition, the worker will need to test themselves at the self-examination area and receive a negative test result before entering company premises," a Kakao official said.

After easing the ban on Feb 18., all employees will be sent 10 self-diagnosis kits each and will need to take the tests before heading to work.

Other companies have sent self-diagnosis kits to their employees during the Lunar New Year holidays.

SK Innovation distributed self-diagnosis kits to all executives and employees before the Lunar New Year holiday, and instructed them to get tested before returning to work.

Samsung Electronics is maintaining a business trip ban to nine countries where Omicron has been spreading, including South Africa.

Meetings and training sessions were banned, and shuttle bus services between business sites were also suspended, while the company is maintaining its work-from-home ratio at 30 percent.

Hyundai Motor Group is applying the quarantine guidelines that were strengthened in December.

"More than half of our employees are advised to work from home. Business trips are limited, and non-business activities such as gatherings are prohibited and all outsiders are prohibited entry to the company buildings," a Hyundai Motor Group official said.

LG Electronics also strengthened quarantine measures last month with overseas business trips being strongly discouraged and employees advised to get booster shots. The company maintains its work-from-home ratio at over 30 percent while allowing meetings only with less than 10 people. Only vaccinated employees can take part in the company group education classes.

SK hynix is maintaining its existing strengthened quarantine rules, such as refraining from face-to-face events, banquets and meetings and minimizing the use of in-house sports facilities.

Hanwha has also focused on complying with existing quarantine rules. In addition to its work-from-home policy, most meetings are held virtually and domestic and overseas business trips have been restricted.

Meanwhile, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said 22,907 daily new confirmed infection cases were reported on Thursday.