54,122 Confirmed Cases... Uncertain 'Self Home Treatment'

174,177 Home Treatment Patients ... 6,157 More Than the Previous Day
282 Severe Cases · 20 Deaths Yesterday ... Fatality Rate 0.59%

On the 9th, ahead of the transition to a home treatment system, staff at a dedicated home treatment team set up in a district office in Seoul are sorting health kits and treatment medicines to be delivered to home treatment patients. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The number of new daily COVID-19 cases surged to the mid-50,000s on the 10th. Although the government launched a new home treatment system focusing only on high-risk groups on the same day, shortages and price increases of some items necessary for COVID-19 diagnosis and home treatment, such as self-test kits and oxygen saturation monitors, are intensifying.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight on the day, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases increased by 54,122, bringing the cumulative total to 1,185,361. The number of new daily cases rose by 4,555 compared to the previous day (49,567).

The number of new cases has sharply increased, rising from 13,008 on the 26th of last month when it first entered the 10,000 range, to 20,268 on the 2nd of this month, 36,345 on the 5th, 40,000s on the 9th, and now reaching the 50,000s. The health authorities forecast that by the end of this month, new daily cases could reach between 130,000 and 170,000.

The number of critically ill patients was 282, down by 3 from the previous day (285). Deaths increased by 20, with a cumulative fatality rate of 0.59%. The nationwide COVID-19 severe bed occupancy rate remained relatively stable at 19.4% (492 out of 2,538 beds in use). As asymptomatic and mild cases surged, the number of home treatment patients rose to 174,177, an increase of 6,157 from the previous day (168,020).

To concentrate medical resources on vulnerable groups at high risk of severe illness, the government began health monitoring only for the 'intensive management group' consisting of those aged 60 and above and patients in their 50s with underlying conditions from this day. The 'general management group' shifted to a home treatment system where they monitor their own health. Due to growing anxiety about 'self home treatment,' more citizens are purchasing self-test kits as well as over-the-counter medicines such as antipyretics and cold remedies. A pharmacy official in Seoul said, "Self-test kits have not been coming in at all for the past few days," adding, "Inquiries about purchasing over-the-counter medicines, thermometers, and oxygen saturation monitors have also greatly increased."

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