Government: "Clear Gradual Decline in COVID-19... Effect of Increased Vaccination Completion Rate"

By the End of This Week, 70% of the Entire Population to Complete Vaccination

On the 12th, additional vaccinations (booster shots) began for COVID-19 treatment hospital workers who had completed their primary vaccination series more than six months ago. Treatment hospital workers are receiving vaccines at the Central Vaccination Center of the National Medical Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] The government has assessed that the scale of the COVID-19 outbreak is decreasing steadily as the number of confirmed cases continues to decline.

On the 18th, Son Youngrae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH), said at a COVID-19 response briefing, "As the number of patients decreases, the overall scale of the outbreak is maintaining a stable downward trend," adding, "At present, it is clear that the outbreak is not expanding but gradually decreasing."

Son explained, "Indirect indicators reflecting resident mobility and socio-economic contact frequency have mostly risen or remained at high levels," and added, "In such circumstances, the stagnation or decrease in the outbreak scale can be interpreted as the effect of infection transmission blocking due to the rise in vaccination completion rates."

Jung Eunkyung, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), also stated at the regular briefing of the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) in the afternoon, "The number of cases has decreased for two consecutive weeks recently," and explained, "The number of tests increased significantly right after the Chuseok holiday but did not drop sharply, and the positivity rate (confirmed cases relative to tests) also decreased."

Commissioner Jung said, "The increase in vaccination rates, especially among the young and middle-aged groups who showed the highest incidence during the 4th wave, likely had an impact," but added, "However, since social distancing measures are being eased from today, allowing larger private gatherings and extended operating hours, we will monitor the trend of case occurrences more closely this week."

She emphasized, "Although the highly transmissible Delta variant has become dominant, making it difficult to end COVID-19 solely through vaccination, vaccination lowers the severity rate upon infection and can block transmission to some extent, so we must maximize vaccination rates to manage the outbreak situation stably."

She also noted that there is sufficient hospital bed capacity and estimated that the target of 70% full vaccination of the entire population would be achieved around the end of this week.

Son stated, "The number of severe cases is fluctuating in the low to mid-300s without increasing, so the overall medical system capacity is sufficient," and added, "There is about 55% availability in intensive care unit beds, 56% in infectious disease-dedicated hospital beds, and 61% in residential treatment centers, allowing stable management of the quarantine situation."

Meanwhile, regarding the government's target of '70% full vaccination of the entire population' as a criterion for phased daily recovery transition, Son predicted, "It seems achievable around the end of this week."

Commissioner Jung also said, "Currently, the second dose vaccination is being concentrated on those aged 18 to 49," and added, "Based on reservation status, about 70% of the target population is expected to complete vaccination by this weekend or early next week." As of this day, the domestic COVID-19 vaccination completion rate stands at 64.6%.

Some expect that even if the vaccination completion rate surpasses 70% this weekend, considering the two-week antibody formation period, it will be difficult to immediately implement phased daily recovery measures starting next month.

Regarding this, Commissioner Jung said, "It is a matter to be decided by considering the outbreak situation, overall vaccination rates, and vaccination rates among high-risk groups in detail," and added, "There is no fixed principle that 'it is possible only after about 14 days post-vaccination' mechanically."

She continued, "The Daily Recovery Support Committee is currently reviewing detailed phased implementation plans, timing, and speed," and added, "We will prepare and announce specific implementation plans through a forum or public hearing this week."

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