"High Possibility of Increased Deaths After the Weekend"

46 COVID-19 Deaths This Month
Severe and Critical Cases Also Rising Rapidly

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Concerns over casualties are growing as the number of deaths from the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has approached 50 just this month.

Recently, there has been an increase in cluster outbreaks in vulnerable facilities such as nursing institutions, and in the Seoul metropolitan area where the number of patients has surged, signs suggesting the collapse of the medical system have appeared, such as patients dying while being transferred to hospitals or at home. Typically, considering that symptoms worsen about a week after confirmation and the subsequent period of illness, the number of deaths increases about 3 to 4 weeks after a large number of confirmed cases emerge. The medical community has pessimistically forecasted that many deaths could occur after this weekend.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 11th, 8 COVID-19 patients died the previous day. On the day before, the 9th, 8 people also died. The number of deaths has increased to 46 this month. The problem lies ahead. During the first wave in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk areas, the peak of new confirmed cases was between late February and early March, but the highest number of deaths occurred from late March to early April. The second wave centered on the Seoul metropolitan area in August and September showed a similar pattern. New cases peaked from mid to late August, while deaths were concentrated after mid-September.

On the 11th, installation work for a 'container temporary ward' equipped with various facilities such as negative pressure systems and beds is underway at Seoul Medical Center in Jungnang-gu, Seoul. Photo by Mun Honam munonam@

Since late last month, daily cases have been exceeding 500 to 600, so the medical community expects the number of deaths to increase soon. Professor Eom Jung-sik of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Gachon University Gil Medical Center said at a forum the day before, "Patients in nursing hospital cluster infections, considered high-risk groups, were mild at admission but their symptoms worsened due to pneumonia and other complications, requiring critical care," adding, "After this weekend, a significant number of deaths are expected."

The number of critically ill patients is also rapidly increasing. According to the Disease Control Headquarters, as of this day, there are 169 critically ill patients, more than double compared to the end of last month. Although this third wave is spreading mainly among younger people, it has occurred in various groups and facilities nationwide. Over 100 confirmed cases were reported at a nursing hospital in Ulsan, and dozens of infections occurred in vulnerable groups gathered in nursing homes and day care centers in Incheon, Goyang, Gimhae, and other areas. Professor Kim Woo-joo of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Korea University Guro Hospital pointed out, "The endpoint of community spread is facilities like nursing hospitals and nursing homes where elderly and patients with underlying conditions gather," adding, "Warnings were issued every time the outbreak spread in the past, but preparations were not made in advance, leading to a frantic response."

The quarantine authorities are requesting cooperation from large private hospitals to secure additional intensive care unit (ICU) beds and designating government-designated inpatient treatment beds as dedicated COVID-19 ICU beds to secure beds, but there are criticisms that the response is belated. Among ICU beds that can also be used by non-COVID-19 patients, the number of beds reserved exclusively for COVID-19 critically ill patients was 386 at the beginning of this month but has recently decreased to 328, a reduction of 58 beds.

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