Over 40,000 New COVID-19 Cases in 34 Days... Is the 7th Wave Coming Sooner? (Update)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Byeon Seon-jin] As COVID-19 cases surge again, the number of new confirmed cases on the 25th rapidly increased to over 40,000 for the first time in 34 days. There is also a possibility that the 7th wave, initially expected in early December, may occur sooner. According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters as of midnight on the same day, 43,759 new COVID-19 cases were added, bringing the total cumulative confirmed cases to 25,355,350. Among these, 43,688 were domestic cases and 71 were imported cases.

The number of new confirmed cases exceeding 40,000 occurred for the first time in 34 days since November 21 (41,231 cases). The number of diagnostic tests, which had decreased over the weekend, increased again on Monday, a weekday, causing the cases to surge more than threefold compared to the previous day (14,302 cases). The number of confirmed cases on this day was 10,511 more than a week ago on the 18th (33,248 cases), and 28,283 more compared to two weeks ago on the 11th (15,476 cases). From the 19th to the 25th, the daily new confirmed cases were 29,493 → 25,382 → 24,751 → 26,906 → 26,256 → 14,302 → 43,759.

Although the health authorities had anticipated the 7th major wave to occur in early December, some experts suggest it could come earlier based on the current trend. On the 24th briefing, Jeong Gi-seok, head of the COVID-19 Special Response Team and member of the National Infectious Disease Crisis Response Advisory Committee, stated regarding the timing of the 7th wave, “When the weekly daily average remains around 20,000 and then suddenly shows an increasing trend, that is when the resurgence truly begins.”

The number of critically ill patients hospitalized decreased by one to 225. The number of critically ill patients over the past week from the 19th to the 25th were 243 → 249 → 233 → 196 → 212 → 226 → 225. The nationwide critical care bed occupancy rate is 21.2%, with 19.2% in the metropolitan area and 26.6% in non-metropolitan areas.

The number of COVID-19 deaths reported the previous day was 17, an increase of 7 from the day before. By age group, those aged 80 and above accounted for the most deaths with 11, followed by 2 each in their 60s and 70s, and 1 each in their 20s and 50s. The total cumulative deaths reached 29,017, with a fatality rate of 0.11%. Currently, 152,315 confirmed cases are under home treatment, with 37,073 new patients starting home treatment the previous day.

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