20,751 New COVID-19 Cases... 233 Critical and Severe Patients (Update)

by Byun Seonjin

Published 21 Oct.2022 09:41(KST)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Byeon Seon-jin] Amid prospects of a COVID-19 resurgence, the number of new confirmed cases reached the 24,000 range.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 21st, as of midnight, 24,751 new COVID-19 cases were added, bringing the total cumulative confirmed cases to 25,244,255. Among these, 24,691 were domestic cases and 60 were imported cases.

The number of new cases decreased by 680 from the previous day (25,431) but increased by 1,168 compared to a week ago (23,583). Lee Ki-il, the first chief coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, stated at the Central Disaster Management Headquarters meeting held that day, "The number has remained at around 20,000 for five consecutive weeks," but added, "The infection reproduction number, which indicates the degree of spread, is 1.09, exceeding 1 for the first time in nine weeks." A value above 1 indicates the spread of the epidemic.

The daily new confirmed cases over the past week from the 15th to the 21st were 22,844 → 21,469 → 11,040 → 33,248 → 29,503 → 25,431 → 24,751.

The number of critically ill patients hospitalized decreased by 16 from the previous day to 233. The number of critically ill patients over the past week from the 15th to the 21st were 245 → 247 → 248 → 247 → 243 → 249 → 233. The nationwide critical care bed occupancy rate is 17.9%, with 17.0% in the metropolitan area and 20.4% in non-metropolitan areas.

The number of COVID-19 deaths reported the previous day was 30, an increase of 7 from the day before. By age group, those aged 80 and above accounted for half with 15 deaths, followed by 8 in their 70s, 2 in their 60s, 3 in their 50s, and 1 each in their 30s and 40s. The total cumulative deaths reached 28,952, with a fatality rate of 0.11%.