Authorities: "Slowing Increase in Confirmed Cases... Infections Decreasing Among Elderly and Unvaccinated"

On the 21st, when 5,202 new COVID-19 cases and 1,022 critically ill patients were recorded, citizens lined up in a long queue for testing at the temporary screening clinic at Yongsan Station in Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] The government recently assessed that the increase in COVID-19 confirmed cases is slowing down, with the infection rate among those aged 60 and over and the unvaccinated decreasing. However, it added that whether this slowdown will actually lead to a decline phase in the epidemic needs to be observed in the coming situation.

Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said at the regular briefing of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on the morning of the 21st, "Since last weekend, the trend of the increase in the number of confirmed cases itself has been slowing down," adding, "The number of confirmed cases, which used to increase by 15-20% weekly, has clearly slowed down over the past few days since last weekend."

Son attributed this to the reduced infection rate among those aged 60 and over and the unvaccinated. He stated, "The proportion of elderly cases, which was maintained around 35%, with about 2,500 cases among those aged 60 and over, has now decreased to the 20% range, and the number of confirmed cases has dropped to around 1,000."

He continued, "The infection rate among the unvaccinated is also slightly decreasing," adding, "It has dropped to about 25%, which is a positive indicator considering that severe cases and deaths are high among the unvaccinated overall."

The authorities believe that the strengthened quarantine measures contributed to these changes but remain cautious about whether confirmed cases will actually decrease. Son said, "We judge that these changes are fluctuations occurring due to the strengthened quarantine measures," adding, "These changes are appearing as the third dose vaccination is accelerated and the vaccination certification and negative test confirmation system (quarantine pass) is expanded." He further stated, "If these changes become more prominent, it could lead to a reduction in severe cases and deaths," and requested, "We ask the public to participate so that these changes can accelerate."

However, he noted, "Although the speed of the epidemic is slowing down, it is still too early to determine whether it will shift to a declining trend," adding, "We need to observe the situation this week further to make a judgment."

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