Comparing Overseas 'Omicron Peak' COVID-19 Cases and Deaths

Highest Daily Confirmed Cases Per Capita at 'Jeongjeom'... On the 17th, 1 in 100 People Confirmed Positive

On the 17th, when the number of new COVID-19 cases exceeded 600,000 for the first time, citizens lined up for testing at the screening clinic of Songpa-gu Public Health Center in Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] As the Omicron wave approaches its peak, the daily number of confirmed cases and deaths are reaching record highs. South Korea recorded the highest number of new COVID-19 cases worldwide on both the 17th and 18th. Health authorities currently estimate that the domestic situation is near the peak. We compared the number of confirmed cases and deaths at the peak of the Omicron wave in overseas countries that have already passed their peak with the current COVID-19 situation in South Korea.

According to data compiled by Our World in Data, the scale of COVID-19 cases and deaths in South Korea is larger than that of other countries at their Omicron peaks. The 621,328 confirmed cases recorded on the 17th, the highest ever, represent about 1% of the domestic population. From the 11th to the 17th, South Korea's average daily death rate per 1 million people was 5.31. Considering that severe cases and deaths typically increase 2 to 4 weeks after a rise in confirmed cases, the domestic death toll may increase further.

The United States reached its Omicron peak on January 10, recording 1,433,977 new cases, about 0.4% of its population. From January 29 to February 4, the average daily death rate per 1 million people was 7.59.

The United Kingdom reported 218,724 new cases on January 4, about 0.3% of its population. Three weeks later, on January 25, the death toll reached 440, the highest during the Omicron wave. From January 19 to 25, the average daily death rate per 1 million people was 3.87.

Japan's Omicron peak occurred on February 5, with 105,616 new cases, approximately 0.08% of its population infected. On February 22, the daily death toll exceeded 300 for the first time. From February 16 to 22, the average daily death rate per 1 million people was 1.79.

Worldometer's indicators also show that the scale of the COVID-19 wave in South Korea is relatively large compared to other countries. As of the 18th, South Korea ranked first worldwide in cumulative confirmed cases over the past 7 days and fifth in cumulative deaths. Considering the entire period since the outbreak, South Korea ranks 12th globally with 8,657,609 cumulative confirmed cases and 58th in cumulative deaths with 11,782.

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