As Hong Kong faces a shortage of mortuary space due to a surge in COVID-19 patients, the bodies of the deceased are being moved from hearses to refrigerated shipping containers. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] The number of COVID-19 deaths in the Asia region has surpassed 1 million.
According to major foreign media on the 11th (local time), as of midnight the previous day, the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in the Asia region reached 1,000,045. This accounts for about 17% of the global death toll based on official government statistics from each country. In particular, the number of COVID-19 deaths is soaring mainly in East Asian regions such as Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong.
This appears to be due to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases caused by the Omicron variant outbreak in the Asia region. While the number of confirmed cases is hitting record highs daily in Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore, foreign media reported that cases are rapidly decreasing in India, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
China's "Zero COVID" containment policy is also being shaken. According to the state-run Global Times on the 11th, the number of new COVID-19 cases in China was reported as 1,100 the previous day. This is double the figure from the 6th (526 cases). Also, it is the first time in over two years since February 18, 2020 (1,749 cases), when COVID-19 spread centered around Wuhan, that daily cases in China have exceeded 1,000.
Meanwhile, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) on the 12th, as of midnight, the number of new COVID-19 cases recorded a historic high of 383,665. Deaths also increased to a record high of 269, bringing the cumulative total to 10,144. This is 782 days since the first domestic COVID-19 case was reported. The fatality rate, which is the ratio of deaths to total confirmed cases, stands at 0.16%.
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