New COVID-19 Cases 5,567... 94 Deaths and 906 Critically Ill Patients, Highest Ever Recorded

Omicron Infections Increase by 5, Totaling 119 Cases

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] Although the number of tests decreased due to the holiday, the number of new domestic COVID-19 cases recorded in the 5,000 range on the 14th, indicating that the spread continues. The daily death toll from COVID-19 approached 100, and the total number of critically ill patients hospitalized reached 906, all setting new record highs.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight, the cumulative number of domestic COVID-19 cases increased by 5,567 from the previous day to 528,652. There were 5,525 domestic cases and 42 imported cases. This is 250 fewer than the 5,817 cases reported the previous day. Typically, at the beginning of the week, the number of new cases decreases due to reduced testing over the weekend, then increases again from midweek, a pattern that repeats.

By region, Seoul reported 2,053 cases, Incheon 348, and Gyeonggi 1,486, with the metropolitan area accounting for 3,887 cases, or 70.4% of the total.

The total number of cases outside the metropolitan area was 1,638. These include ▲Busan 205 ▲Daegu 128 ▲Gwangju 69 ▲Daejeon 151 ▲Ulsan 85 ▲Sejong 20 ▲Gangwon 132 ▲Chungbuk 86 ▲Chungnam 202 ▲Jeonbuk 117 ▲Jeonnam 58 ▲Gyeongbuk 165 ▲Gyeongnam 181 ▲Jeju 39.

The daily death toll from COVID-19 reached 100. The number of deaths increased by 94, bringing the cumulative death toll to 4,387. The fatality rate stands at 0.83%. The number of deaths surged by 54 compared to the previous day, surpassing the previous highest record of 80 deaths on the 11th. The number of critically ill patients hospitalized exceeded 900 for the first time, reaching a total of 906, an increase of 30 from the previous day, setting a new record.

The number of people infected with the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 increased by 5 from the previous day, totaling 119. Two of these were imported cases, with individuals arriving from South Africa and Nigeria respectively. The remaining three were infected domestically.

As of midnight, the number of patients under home treatment was confirmed to be 25,846. By region, Seoul had 12,067, Incheon 1,867, and Gyeonggi 7,814. Outside the metropolitan area, the numbers were Busan 1,049, Daegu 333, Gwangju 63, Daejeon 235, Ulsan 61, Sejong 31, Gangwon 401, Chungbuk 81, Chungnam 317, Jeonbuk 218, Jeonnam 143, Gyeongbuk 582, Gyeongnam 375, and Jeju 209.

As of 5 p.m. the previous day, the nationwide intensive care unit (ICU) bed occupancy rate was 81.8%, indicating a dangerous level. In particular, in the metropolitan area, only 114 of 827 beds remain available, with an occupancy rate of 86.2%. Seoul and Incheon have occupancy rates of 89.8% and 89.4%, respectively, meaning virtually all available beds are in use. Additionally, some regions have 100% bed occupancy, including Daejeon, Chungbuk, and Gyeongbuk.

As of midnight, among those waiting for bed allocation, 807 were waiting for hospitalization and 673 were waiting for admission to living treatment centers. Outside the metropolitan area, one person has been waiting for bed allocation for more than one day, identified as waiting for hospitalization.

According to the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team, 75,009 people received their first dose the previous day, bringing the total number of first-dose recipients to 43,040,967. The vaccination rate for the first dose relative to the population is 83.8%. Among those aged 18 and over and those aged 60 and over, 94.1% and 93.7%, respectively, have completed the first dose. The number of new second-dose vaccinations was 61,637, totaling 41,756,446, and the number of new third-dose vaccinations was 759,587, totaling 7,119,948.

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