COVID-19 Risk Level 'Very High'... Nationwide Highest Level for 3 Consecutive Weeks

On the 13th, cars lined up waiting for tests around the drive-thru temporary screening clinic at the Goyang Sports Complex parking lot in Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] The COVID-19 epidemic risk level was assessed as 'very high' nationwide, in the metropolitan area, and in non-metropolitan areas. The nationwide risk level has recorded the 'very high' stage for three consecutive weeks.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced on the 13th that the weekly COVID-19 risk assessment for the second week of December (from the 5th to the 11th) evaluated the risk level as 'very high' nationwide, in the metropolitan area, and in non-metropolitan areas. The nationwide risk level has been assessed as the highest stage, 'very high,' for three consecutive weeks since the fourth week of November. The headquarters evaluates COVID-19 risk levels weekly using 17 evaluation indicators across three areas: response capacity, incidence status, and vaccination, rating them on a five-level scale: very low, low, moderate, high, and very high.

By region, the metropolitan area's risk level has recorded 'very high' for four consecutive weeks starting from the third week of November, while the non-metropolitan area's risk level, which had been at the 'moderate' stage until last week, has been elevated to the highest stage.

Additionally, the nationwide intensive care unit (ICU) bed occupancy rate slightly decreased in the metropolitan area from 87.8% in the first week of December to 84.9% in the second week, but it has been continuously increasing in non-metropolitan areas (from 62.8% in the first week of December to 68.5% in the second week).

Moreover, the metropolitan area's medical response capacity remains exceeded, and the non-metropolitan area is rapidly increasing as well. The metropolitan area's medical response capacity rose by 16.3 percentage points from 111.2% in the first week of December to 127.5% in the second week. The non-metropolitan area increased by 27.9 percentage points from 49.8% to 77.7%.

Regarding incidence indicators, the average daily confirmed cases in the second week of December reached a record high of 6,068. Although the proportion of confirmed cases aged 60 and over slightly decreased during the week, the number of confirmed cases aged 60 and over increased due to the overall rise in cases, and it is expected to lead to an increase in severe or fatal cases. The weekly average daily confirmed cases rose from 4,392 in the first week of December to 6,068 in the second week, and the number of confirmed cases aged 60 and over increased from 11,010 to 14,245 during the same period.

The test positivity rate, a leading indicator of incidence, also steadily increased from 2.19% in the first week of December to 2.46% in the second week, indicating that community transmission is spreading. Vaccination indicators showed that the third-dose vaccination rate for those aged 60 and over increased by 13.3 percentage points from the previous week to 31.4%.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters explained, "The comprehensive risk level nationwide, in the metropolitan area, and in non-metropolitan areas was assessed as very high, and there is a high possibility that severe and fatal cases will increase next week. Therefore, rapid third-dose vaccination for those aged 60 and over and completion of vaccination for middle and high school students are necessary."

Lee Sang-won, head of the Epidemiological Investigation and Analysis Division at the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said, "The metropolitan area's medical response capacity continues to exceed its limit, and the non-metropolitan area is also at risk of reaching its limit soon, so expanding home treatment is necessary."

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