COVID-19 Cases Exceed 40,000 for 6 Consecutive Days... Is the Multidemic Becoming a Reality?

Spread of Respiratory Infectious Diseases such as COVID-19 and Influenza

Recently, respiratory infectious diseases such as COVID-19 and influenza have been spreading.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) on the 24th, the daily number of confirmed COVID-19 cases exceeded 40,000 for six consecutive days from the 18th to the 23rd. On the 19th, the number reached 47,029, approaching 50,000 daily cases again since the COVID-19 crisis level was downgraded last month.

The government has decided to adjust the COVID-19 crisis alert level from 'Severe' to 'Caution' starting in June.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The daily average number of COVID-19 cases rising to the 40,000 range is the first time in over six months since January 17, when 40,169 cases were recorded. The 47,029 cases on the 19th is the highest since January 11 (54,315 cases).

Respiratory infectious diseases like influenza, which usually subside during the summer, are also showing signs of spreading, raising concerns about the reality of a multi-demic (simultaneous epidemic of multiple infectious diseases). The number of suspected influenza patients has increased for three consecutive weeks, with the spread particularly notable among elementary, middle, and high school students.

According to the weekly infectious disease sentinel surveillance report released by the KDCA, the number of suspected influenza patients in the 28th week (July 9?15) was 16.9 per 1,000 outpatients, marking an increase for four consecutive weeks. Suspected influenza cases have rebounded since June, showing 15 cases in the 25th week, 16.1 in the 26th week, 16.3 in the 27th week, and 16.9 in the 28th week.

The spread of infectious diseases appears to be influenced by this summer’s heatwaves and heavy rains, the easing of quarantine measures, and the waning effectiveness of vaccines. Due to the heatwaves and heavy rains, almost no one wears masks, and increased time spent indoors has created an environment conducive to the transmission of infectious diseases.

Another reason cited is the reduced immunity caused by fewer opportunities for virus exposure due to COVID-19 quarantine policies that have continued for several years. Immunity gained from COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations during the last winter season has also nearly disappeared.

The number of severe and critical patients is also increasing. According to the KDCA, the average daily number of severe cases over the past week was 151, 24 more than the previous week’s 127. The number of deaths was 57 (an average of 8 per day), 9 more than the previous week’s 48. This brings the cumulative death toll to 35,216, with a fatality rate of 0.11%.

Some experts predict that the spread of COVID-19 and influenza may ease soon with the start of summer vacation and holiday season. This is because people will disperse from concentrated environments like schools to other spaces such as private academies and from the metropolitan area to local travel destinations.

In the 'multi-demic' phase, health authorities plan to implement the second stage of daily recovery as early as mid-next month, including downgrading the COVID-19 infectious disease classification from level 2 to level 4, the same as influenza.

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