COVID-19 Deaths 67, Highest in 53 Days... 55,437 New Cases Confirmed (Update)

On the 15th, 72,883 new COVID-19 cases were reported, an increase of 49,118 from the previous day. Citizens visiting the screening clinic set up at Yongsan-gu Public Health Center in Seoul are moving to get tested. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Byun Seon-jin] As the number of new COVID-19 cases recorded in the mid-50,000s range, similar to a week ago, severe cases have increased recently mainly among the elderly, resulting in 67 deaths in one day.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced on the 17th at midnight that 55,437 new COVID-19 cases were added, bringing the total cumulative cases to 26,412,901. The number of new cases decreased by 11,150 from the previous day (66,587). Compared to a week ago on the 10th (55,365), it increased by 72, and compared to two weeks ago on the 3rd (46,880), it increased by 8,557.

The number of COVID-19 deaths increased by 20 from the previous day to 67, the highest in 53 days since September 25 (73 deaths). The number of critically ill patients hospitalized decreased by 31 from the previous day to 380. The number of critically ill patients was in the 400s for three consecutive days from the 14th to the 16th.

The health authorities evaluated that all quarantine indicators, including weekly confirmed cases, critically ill patients, deaths, and reinfection rates, are worsening compared to the previous week. Baek Kyung-ran, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters (Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency), said in a briefing the day before, “The average daily new confirmed cases and the average daily number of critically ill patients in care during the second week of November increased by 15.8% and 18.7%, respectively, compared to the previous week,” adding, “The average daily number of deaths and the estimated reinfection rate also rose by 16.9% and about 1 percentage point, respectively, compared to the previous week.”

As of midnight on the same day, the winter additional vaccination rate is 4.1% of the population. It is 11.9% for those aged 60 and over, and 0.6% for those aged 18 to 59. To raise the winter additional vaccination rate amid the COVID-19 winter resurgence, the health authorities designated the period from the 21st of this month to the 18th of next month as the 'Bivalent Vaccine Intensive Vaccination Period' for one month. From the 21st, vaccinations can be received on the same day without prior reservation, and those vaccinated during the winter period can receive discounts and other benefits when using facilities under local government jurisdiction. From the intensive vaccination period, residents of nursing facilities who have received the 3rd or 4th dose, as well as confirmed cases, must receive the bivalent vaccine or wait 120 days after confirmation to go out.

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