'Severe and Critical Cases' Back to 400s After a Month and a Half... "Up to 200 Deaths Per Day Possible"

Confirmed Cases at 996 per 1 Million People, Ranked No.1 Worldwide
Booster Vaccination Rate for Ages 60 and Above Only 11.6%
Possible 3,000 Deaths by Year-End After Peak of Outbreak

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The number of critically ill COVID-19 patients hospitalized after testing positive has exceeded 400 again after more than a month and a half. The number of confirmed cases relative to the domestic population is also among the highest in the world. The health authorities are actively encouraging additional COVID-19 variant vaccine booster shots and have decided to expand the eligibility for the preventive antibody injection 'Evusheld.'

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 15th, as of midnight the previous day, the number of new COVID-19 confirmed cases was 23,765, the highest Monday announcement figure in nine weeks since September 12 (36,917 cases). The number of critically ill patients was 413, marking over 400 for the first time in 48 days since September 27 (401 patients).

According to the international statistical analysis site 'Our World in Data,' the number of confirmed cases per 1 million population in South Korea over the past week was 996 per day, the highest among countries with populations over 500,000. Taiwan followed with 877 per million, then Greece with 845, Hong Kong 735, New Zealand 594, and Japan 578.

There were also 44 deaths reported from COVID-19 on that day alone. Over the recent week (November 8?14), 319 people died from COVID-19, averaging more than 45 deaths per day.

However, the domestic variant vaccine vaccination rate remains sluggish, with the winter vaccination rate for those aged 60 and over at 10.3%, and the booster vaccination rate for those in their 60s who need additional shots at only 11.6%.

Experts are concerned about the very low vaccination rate despite the rapid increase in critically ill cases and deaths. Jeong Ki-seok, head of the COVID-19 Special Response Team and chair of the National Infectious Disease Crisis Response Advisory Committee, said in a briefing, "So far this year, there have already been 24,000 COVID-19 deaths, and it is estimated to reach 27,000 by the end of the year. Especially, the fatality rate increases with age: 0.06% for those in their 60s, 0.11% for those in their 70s, and up to 1.03% for those in their 80s, so (elderly people) must get vaccinated for winter prevention."

Professor Eom Jung-sik of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Gachon University Gil Medical Center said, "If the current trend continues, the peak of the 7th wave could see 150 to 200 deaths per day," and urged, "(Health authorities) should fully inform the public about the vaccine's effectiveness in preventing severe illness and encourage vaccination by providing appropriate incentives to those vaccinated."

Meanwhile, the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team expanded the eligibility for Evusheld administration starting today. Previously limited to severely immunocompromised patients with hematologic cancers, organ transplants, and congenital immunodeficiency, the eligibility now includes patients with solid cancers, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and rheumatism. Patients undergoing severe immunosuppressive treatments such as chemotherapy and B-cell depletion therapy can also receive the injection. Evusheld is an injection used preventively for people who are unlikely to develop antibodies through COVID-19 vaccination.

The period during which immunosuppressive treatment patients can apply for the injection has been significantly extended from '2 to 4 months' to '6 months to 1 year.' The dosage has been increased from 300 mg to 600 mg. Patients who previously received 300 mg can receive an additional 300 mg if less than three months have passed since the last dose, or 600 mg if more than three months have passed.

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