Authorities: "Severe and critical patients this week, deaths may increase significantly this month" (Update)

Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters (Director of the National Institute of Health), is holding a regular briefing on the domestic status of COVID-19 cases and the interim survey results of confirmed patients.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] Health authorities expressed concern that the number of critically ill patients and deaths could significantly increase for the time being due to the impact of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) that has spread mainly in religious facilities in the Seoul metropolitan area.

On the afternoon of the 1st, Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, stated at a briefing on the domestic COVID-19 situation, "After new confirmed cases occur, critically ill patients usually increase about a week to ten days later, and the number of deaths rises around one month after that."

The cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Korea surpassed 20,000, reaching 20,182 as of midnight on the same day, 225 days after the first patient was reported on January 20. The cluster infections triggered at metropolitan religious facilities such as Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, and Uri Jeil Church in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, accounted for 5,412 cases over 19 days from the 14th of last month to the 1st.

As of this day, the number of critically ill patients was 104, an increase of 25 from the previous day. This is the first time the number of critically ill patients has reached triple digits. Due to the impact of this cluster infection, the daily confirmed cases surged to 441 on the 27th of last month. According to the health authorities' estimates, the number of critically ill patients is likely to increase further by this weekend, and the death toll, currently at 324, may also rise by the end of this month. Deputy Director Kwon expressed concern, saying, "Considering the age distribution of confirmed cases, with many elderly patients, this is even more worrisome." Among the critically ill patients, 86 (82.7%) are elderly aged 60 or older, followed by 13 (12.5%) in their 50s, and 5 (4.8%) in their 40s.

He emphasized, "We are currently in the third and most dangerous critical phase following the first peak in Daegu and Gyeongbuk in February and the second peak centered on metropolitan entertainment facilities in early May. It is still difficult for anyone to say whether this is just the beginning or the middle of this dangerous phase." He also urged strict compliance with quarantine rules, noting, "There are still many patients under investigation, and widespread occurrences have accumulated not only in the metropolitan area but also in other regions." The Central Disease Control Headquarters also announced that they have administered the COVID-19 treatment drug 'Remdesivir' to 155 patients currently being treated in 36 hospitals.

Meanwhile, as of 12 noon on the same day, 27 additional confirmed cases were identified among contacts related to Sarang Jeil Church, increasing the cumulative confirmed cases to 1,083. The number of locations where additional transmission occurred from Sarang Jeil Church to other churches, nursing facilities, and medical institutions increased by one from the previous day to 26. A total of 170 confirmed cases have emerged from these locations.

Regarding the urban rallies held on the 15th of last month in areas such as Gwanghwamun, Seoul, the number of infected persons increased by 20 in one day, bringing the cumulative confirmed cases to 419. So far, confirmed cases have been reported in 14 cities and provinces. Secondary transmissions related to the rallies have occurred in 10 locations, increasing the related confirmed cases to 113.

From the 19th of last month to the 1st of this month, among the 4,421 confirmed cases during the recent two weeks, 1,076 cases (24.3%) were classified as 'under investigation' with unclear infection routes.

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