Increase in Cluster Infections at Nursing Hospitals and Facilities... Average 36 Cases in July (Update)

Six Times the June Average (6 Cases)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] As the resurgence of COVID-19 continues, group outbreaks in nursing hospitals and nursing homes have increased.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 2nd, the average weekly number of group outbreak cases rose from 6 in June to 36 in the first three weeks of July. Group outbreak cases are counted when 10 or more epidemiologically linked cases occur in a single institution.

The number of group outbreak cases and the average number of patients in nursing hospitals and facilities were 10 cases and 18.0 patients in the fifth week of June, but increased to 15 cases and 23.1 patients in the first week of July, 42 cases and 23.2 patients in the second week, and 51 cases and 19.1 patients in the third week. In the fourth week of last month, there was a slight decrease with 8 group infections and an average of 18.9 patients.

Accordingly, the number of confirmed cases aged 60 and over increased from 60,906 in the third week of July to 94,752 in the fourth week. During the same period, the proportion of elderly aged 60 and over among all confirmed cases also rose from 14.3% to 17.0%.

In response, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency held a situation evaluation meeting with dedicated response teams for infection-vulnerable facilities by local governments to review response and activity status. The first meeting was held on the 28th of last month, and weekly evaluation meetings are planned until the 25th of this month.

As of June 30, there are 618 joint dedicated response teams (2,732 members) at city, county, and district levels, 56 dedicated response support teams (258 members) at city and provincial levels, and 24 infection prevention management support organizations (62 members) at city and provincial levels.

The Disease Control Agency emphasized that infection-vulnerable facilities have a high severity rate among confirmed cases, so rapid response such as active administration of therapeutic drugs is important when cases occur.

Im Sook-young, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters Situation General Division, said, "Due to the increase in outbreaks in infection-vulnerable facilities and group outbreaks, both the number and proportion of confirmed cases aged 60 and over, who are at high risk of severe illness, have increased. When meeting high-risk groups, please strictly follow basic quarantine rules such as hand washing and wearing masks, and if you are unvaccinated or have only received the first dose, please refrain from contact."

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