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

Infection Reproduction Number Nationwide 1.23

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

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] The COVID-19 outbreak risk level was assessed as 'very high' nationwide, in the Seoul metropolitan area, and in non-metropolitan areas. The nationwide risk level has been recorded as 'very high' 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) rated the risk level as 'very high' nationwide, in the Seoul metropolitan area, and in non-metropolitan areas. The nationwide risk level has been evaluated as the highest level, 'very high,' for three consecutive weeks since the fourth week of November. The Central Disease Control Headquarters evaluates COVID-19 risk levels weekly across 17 assessment indicators in three areas: response capacity, incidence status, and vaccination, using five levels: very low, low, moderate, high, and very high.

By region, the risk level in the Seoul metropolitan area has recorded 'very high' for four consecutive weeks starting from the third week of November, while the risk level in non-metropolitan areas was at the 'moderate' level until last week but has now been elevated to the highest level.

Additionally, the nationwide intensive care unit (ICU) bed occupancy rate slightly decreased in the Seoul metropolitan area from 87.8% in the first week of December to 84.9% in the second week of December, 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 of December).

Moreover, the medical response capacity in the Seoul metropolitan area remains exceeded, and it is rapidly increasing in non-metropolitan areas as well. The medical response capacity in the Seoul metropolitan area rose by 16.3 percentage points from 111.2% in the first week of December to 127.5% in the second week of December. In non-metropolitan areas, it 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 that 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 show that the third-dose vaccination rate for those aged 60 and over increased by 13.3 percentage points from last week to 31.4%.

As the outbreak situation continues, the weekly effective reproduction number (Rt) was recorded as 1.23 nationwide, with 1.20 in the Seoul metropolitan area and 1.31 in non-metropolitan areas. The recent nationwide effective reproduction number has been 1.10 (third week of November) → 1.19 (fourth week of November) → 1.16 (first week of December) → 1.23 (second week of December).

The Central Disease Control Headquarters explained, "The comprehensive risk level nationwide, in the Seoul metropolitan area, and in non-metropolitan areas was assessed as very high. There is a high possibility that this will lead to an increase in severe and fatal cases next week, so 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 medical response capacity in the Seoul metropolitan area continues to exceed its limit, and there is concern that non-metropolitan areas will soon reach their limit as well, so expanding home treatment is necessary."

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