COVID-19 Deaths Reach Record High... Government Estimates Include Deaths with Underlying Conditions

Severe Case Increase Rate Slows Down but Deaths Rise
Government "Difficult to Analyze... Estimated to Include Deaths from Underlying Conditions"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] Regarding the record high number of COVID-19 deaths, the government estimated that deaths due to underlying conditions were also included in the count.

Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, said at a back briefing on the 24th, "The number of critically ill patients today is 1,081, showing a slowdown in the increase compared to the rise in confirmed cases, while the number of deaths is 470," adding, "We are conducting an in-depth review of the large number of deaths."

Regarding the slowdown in critically ill patients but a sharp increase in deaths, he explained, "It seems that deaths from severe underlying conditions without Omicron symptoms are being counted as COVID deaths together," and added, "Although the medical response is under considerable strain on the ground, it is still being managed overall within the scope of control."

However, he stated that it is difficult to determine whether Omicron infection has a greater impact on patients with underlying conditions. Son said, "Even if the death is due to an underlying condition, it is possible that Omicron infection contributed to the worsening of the underlying condition, or the worsening could have occurred independently of Omicron infection," explaining, "It is difficult to analyze." He added, "There will definitely be an increase in deaths due to the rise in Omicron cases, and on the other hand, Omicron infection may also affect patients with severe underlying conditions."

He emphasized that to minimize deaths, it is important to operate a system that blocks the progression to severe illness in confirmed cases through rapid prescription of oral antiviral treatments and promptly and appropriately treats critically ill patients.

Son stressed, "It is important not to neglect treatment of underlying conditions in confirmed cases," and said, "We are discussing with tertiary general hospitals to ensure that treatment for underlying conditions is not neglected simply because of Omicron infection."

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