475 Critical Patients 'Record High'... Kwon Deok-cheol Urges "Please Follow Quarantine Rules"

Kwon Deok-cheol, First Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Minister of Health and Welfare, center), is speaking while presiding over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on COVID-19 response at the Government Complex Sejong in Sejong City on the morning of the 12th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] Health authorities have once again urged continuous compliance with quarantine rules amid a sharp increase in both COVID-19 confirmed cases and critically ill patients following the 'gradual return to daily life (With Corona)' policy.

On the morning of the 12th, Kwon Deok-cheol, First Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Minister of Health and Welfare), presided over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting and warned, "It has been ten days since entering the first phase of daily recovery, and the number of critically ill patients has reached a record high of 475." He expressed concern, saying, "The daily average number of confirmed cases has exceeded 2,000, and the number of confirmed cases aged 60 and over is increasing." The proportion of confirmed cases aged 60 and above rose from 14.5% on the 1st of last month to 30.9% on the 1st of this month, and as of today, it has increased to 33.0%.

Deputy Head Kwon analyzed the cause, stating, "The vaccination effect is weakening over time among the elderly aged 60 and above who completed vaccination in the first half of this year, leading to the spread of breakthrough infections." The breakthrough infection incidence rate per 100,000 people is 120 for those in their 60s, 124 for those in their 70s, and 144 for those aged 80 and above, showing an increase with age.

He particularly expressed concern that "cluster infections in nursing hospitals and nursing facilities are becoming a major problem." He explained that elderly people with underlying diseases and caregivers living in group settings create vulnerabilities in quarantine, and when the virus is introduced through workers or visitors, cluster infections and severe cases can easily progress, making treatment more difficult due to caregiving issues. He emphasized, "Prevention is the best strategy," and urged, "Please actively strive for prompt additional vaccinations and thorough quarantine management."

Deputy Head Kwon warned, "We may face unexpected challenges on this new path of gradual daily recovery," and added, "The situation could worsen further due to the upcoming College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) next week and year-end gatherings." He stated, "The government and health authorities will fully reinforce medical response capabilities, including securing hospital beds and medical personnel, and will also improve the home treatment management system to respond promptly and actively to the increase in critically ill patients," and concluded by once again urging, "We ask all citizens to adhere to basic quarantine rules."

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