COVID-19 Deaths in the Last 5 Days: 'Aged 70 and Above'

Initial Deaths Concentrated in Their 50s to 60s

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] As the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in South Korea has entered the stage of community transmission, it has been revealed that most of the confirmed deaths in the past five days were elderly people aged 70 and above.

On the 2nd, Asia Economy analyzed 24 deaths that have occurred so far and found that the average age of the 13 deaths since the 26th of last month was 76.1 years. Except for the 14th (69 years old) and 16th (62 years old) deaths, all the 12th to 23rd deaths in the past five days were people in their 70s to 90s. The oldest was the 15th death, a 93-year-old woman. She was confirmed positive on the 23rd of last month and died on the 28th while receiving isolation treatment at Daegu Medical Center.

Elderly people without underlying diseases were also vulnerable. The 21st death, an 80-year-old woman who died the day before, had no chronic illnesses. She was waiting at home for test results after being tested at Suseong Public Health Center in Daegu on the 26th of last month.

On the other hand, early deaths were concentrated in people in their 50s and 60s. Except for the 3rd death (40 years old), who was found dead at home and later confirmed positive, and the 11th death (35 years old), who suffered from chronic liver disease and end-stage renal failure, all were in their 50s and 60s.

In China as well, the fatality rate increased with age. According to a clinical report released by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention on the 17th, the fatality rate was less than 1% up to the 40s, but increased to 1.3% in the 50s, 3.6% in the 60s, and 8.0% in the 70s. Especially, among those aged 80 and above, 208 out of 1,408 confirmed cases (14.8%) died.

Experts said that since elderly people are vulnerable to COVID-19, special caution is necessary. Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said the day before, "Although 80% of COVID-19 patients can recover with mild symptoms, elderly people and those with underlying diseases may progress to severe cases or die, so active treatment is necessary."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.