COVID-19 Deaths Exceed 100... "Next 2-3 Weeks Are the Critical Period"

On the 23rd, as the spread of COVID-19 continued, medical staff at Seoul Medical Center in Jungnang-gu, Seoul, a hospital dedicated to COVID-19 treatment, were transporting patients. According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of midnight that day, the number of critically ill patients reached 1,083, marking the highest ever recorded. The number of deaths also reached a record high of 109. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] The daily death toll from COVID-19 has surpassed 100 for the first time. The number of critically ill patients also reached a record high of 1,083. Experts predict that the next 2 to 3 weeks will be the most critical period as the number of severe cases continues to surge.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of midnight on the 23rd, there were 6,919 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, approaching the 7,000 mark. The number of critically ill patients increased by 20 from the previous day to 1,083, maintaining a four-digit figure for the third consecutive day.

The death toll also reached triple digits for the first time at 109, bringing the cumulative death toll to 5,015. There were 12 additional Omicron variant infections reported, with 8 imported cases and 4 domestic infections, totaling 246 cases.

The nationwide and metropolitan area intensive care bed occupancy rates are already at saturation. According to the Central Accident Response Headquarters, as of 5 p.m. the previous day, the nationwide COVID-19 intensive care bed occupancy rate was 79.1%, nearing 80%.

Experts pointed out that although the government announced plans to expand beds by about 10,000 by mid-next month, the accumulation of critically ill patients and the time required to secure beds and recruit staff remain challenges.

Professor Cheon Eun-mi of Ewha Mokdong Hospital expressed concern, saying, "The phenomenon of patients waiting at least 1 to 2 weeks in emergency rooms due to lack of beds has not improved at all," and added, "As critically ill patients surge and beds are insufficient, deaths are expected to increase over the next 2 to 3 weeks."

Professor Cheon emphasized, "Even in tertiary general hospitals, the situation is dire, with only one or two respiratory medicine specialists treating both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients simultaneously," and urged, "The government must establish concrete plans for staff recruitment and immediately dispatch military medical officers and public health doctors to medical sites."

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