COVID-19 New Cases Over 3,900 for Two Consecutive Days... 1,310 Patients Waiting for Hospital Beds

On the 26th, as the number of severe COVID-19 patients rapidly increased, raising concerns about a shortage of hospital beds, citizens visiting the screening clinic set up at Songpa-gu Public Health Center in Seoul are waiting to get tested. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] On the 26th, the number of new COVID-19 cases was 3,901, marking the second consecutive day with cases in the 3,900 range. The number of critically ill patients hospitalized also remained in the 600s at 617, and the number of patients waiting for hospital beds exceeded 1,000 for the first time, reaching 1,310.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight, the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country increased by 3,901 from the previous day to 432,901. Of these, 3,882 were domestic cases and 19 were imported. The weekly average of new locally transmitted cases is 3,380.1, showing a continuous upward trend.

By region, Seoul reported 1,739 cases, Incheon 245, and Gyeonggi 1,115, with the metropolitan area accounting for 3,099 cases, representing 79.8% of the total.

Non-metropolitan area cases totaled 783, including ▲Busan 96 ▲Daegu 103 ▲Gwangju 30 ▲Daejeon 44 ▲Ulsan 13 ▲Sejong 15 ▲Gangwon 53 ▲Chungbuk 25 ▲Chungnam 87 ▲Jeonbuk 45 ▲Jeonnam 38 ▲Gyeongbuk 116 ▲Gyeongnam 86 ▲Jeju 32.

Among the 19 imported cases, 4 were detected during quarantine, and 15 were confirmed in the local community.

Medical staff are providing treatment in the intensive care unit of Pyeongtaek Bakae Hospital, a designated COVID-19 base hospital. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The number of critically ill patients hospitalized increased by 5 from the previous day to 617, setting a new daily record. The ICU bed occupancy rate nationwide has exceeded 70%, maintaining a dangerous level. As of 5 p.m. the previous day, 826 of the 1,135 dedicated ICU beds nationwide, or 72.8%, were in use. In particular, in the metropolitan area, Seoul's occupancy rate is 86.4%, Incheon's 83.5%, and Gyeonggi's 82.3%, with 84.5% (587 beds) of the total 695 beds in use. Considering the preparation work required for beds during patient admission and discharge processes, this is effectively regarded as a 'depletion' state.

The death toll increased by 39 the previous day, bringing the total cumulative deaths to 3,440. The resulting fatality rate stands at approximately 0.79%.

According to the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team, 47,564 people received their first dose the previous day, bringing the total number of first-dose recipients to 42,419,011. The vaccination rate for the first dose relative to the population is 82.6%. Among those aged 18 and over, 93.4% have completed the first dose. The number of people who completed vaccination the previous day was 66,613, bringing the total to 40,764,548. The vaccination completion rate relative to the population is 79.4%, and 91.2% for those aged 18 and over.