21 COVID-19 Deaths, Highest Since 4th Wave... "Deaths Mainly Among Unvaccinated Elderly"

Medical staff are collecting specimens at a temporary COVID-19 screening clinic set up at Seoul Station Plaza on the 19th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] While the number of new COVID-19 cases remained at the 1,000 mark for two consecutive days, leading to analyses that the momentum of the 4th wave has somewhat subsided, the number of COVID-19 deaths has paradoxically reached its highest level since the 4th wave began.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 19th, as of midnight, the number of COVID-19 related deaths was 2,689, an increase of 21 from the previous day. This is the highest daily death toll since the 4th wave began in July.

Regarding this, Park Hyang, head of the Central Accident Response Headquarters' quarantine team, stated at the regular briefing of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters that morning, "There were 11 deaths among those aged 80 and above, 6 in their 70s, 2 in their 60s, and 2 in their 50s, with 6 of these being breakthrough infections." He added, "Overall, the deaths have occurred mainly among unvaccinated elderly individuals." He also noted, "Since the surge in cases at the end of last month, there has been an increase in deaths primarily among the elderly and those with severe symptoms."

Park further explained, "Currently, the Quarantine and Daily Recovery Support Committee is preparing plans focused on medical and quarantine responses, especially targeting severe patients, through the medical and quarantine subcommittee." He continued, "For severe patients, we are paying closer attention to issues such as hospital bed availability, home treatment, and rapid transfer to life treatment centers if problems arise, and are preparing plans accordingly."

Meanwhile, the quarantine authorities expressed a cautious stance regarding the trend of the spread this month. Park said, "Although the number of confirmed cases is decreasing due to vaccination rates, risk factors such as increased movement and relaxation of social distancing measures may lead to subsequent issues, so there remains a possibility of an increase in confirmed cases." He added, "Regarding the possibility of daily new cases dropping to triple digits, both outcomes are possible."

Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, responded to a question about whether additional easing of quarantine measures would be possible if the number of confirmed cases in the metropolitan area falls to the level of social distancing stage 3, saying, "The scale of confirmed cases itself needs to be continuously monitored," and "The possibility of adjusting the current distancing system, which is in effect until the 31st, is low."

He continued, "Rather than adjusting the current distancing stages, we plan to focus discussions on reviewing and gradually implementing new systems for daily recovery within the current distancing framework." He elaborated, "In fact, various adjustments based on the current distancing system are likely to cause confusion and are not timely. Therefore, it is considered appropriate to review the transition to a new daily life system and its contents after the distancing adjustment period ends, and to implement plans accordingly."