Sharp Increase in COVID-19 Cases Among Elderly... 44% of Patients Aged 60 and Over in the Last Three Days (Update)

COVID-19 Central Disease Control Headquarters Regular Briefing
34% of Confirmed Cases in the Past Month Are Aged 60 and Over

On the 8th, citizens are receiving diagnostic tests at the screening clinic of Eunpyeong-gu Public Health Center in Seoul, where a small-scale cluster infection of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was reported to have occurred at a cathedral. Seoul City announced on the same day that four people were confirmed positive in connection with Susaek Cathedral in Eunpyeong-gu. At this cathedral, one parishioner was first confirmed positive on the 6th, followed by three additional parishioners and acquaintances testing positive on the 7th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Since mid-last month, it has been identified that patients aged 60 and over account for more than one-third of the total cases during the phase of COVID-19 spread centered around churches in the Seoul metropolitan area.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 11th, from the 12th of last month until today, COVID-19 confirmed cases aged 60 and above accounted for 34%. Until mid-last month, the figure fluctuated between 10% and 20%, but it has been steadily increasing since then.

The first patient in the cluster outbreak related to Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, which became the largest cluster infection in the metropolitan area, was confirmed on the 12th of last month. Since then, the infection spread mainly through this church, rallies in downtown Seoul, and medical and nursing institutions, resulting in many elderly patients.

Trends of New Confirmed Cases in the Past Month and the Proportion of Patients Aged 60 and Over

In particular, in the past three days, patients aged 60 and over numbered 215, accounting for more than 44% of all patients during this period. Elderly patients often have weakened immunity or underlying diseases, making them relatively more likely to experience worsening symptoms. As of this day, there are 175 patients in critical or severe condition under treatment, of whom 153 are aged 60 and above, accounting for over 87%.

Looking at the infection routes of elderly patients over the past month, 27.5% were related to religious facilities, the highest proportion. Patients infected through contact with existing confirmed cases accounted for 22.1%, and those related to rallies were about 9.7%. Approximately 22% of cases still have unidentified infection routes.

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said at a briefing on this day, "High-risk groups such as the elderly must be especially careful to prevent COVID-19 infection," and added, "All religious events should be conducted safely in a non-face-to-face manner, and all other face-to-face meetings, events, and group meals should be avoided."

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