Government: "Trend of Confirmed Cases 'Stagnant'... Need to Monitor This Week's Situation to See Shift to Decline"

Increase in Severe and Critical Patients Slows Down Slightly
However, Critical Patients with Underlying Conditions Rise

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] The government analyzed that although the increase in confirmed cases due to the Omicron variant has somewhat plateaued, it is necessary to observe the situation this week to determine whether the trend has shifted to a decline.

Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said at the COVID-19 response regular briefing on the 22nd, "The Omicron wave has reached its peak," adding, "The sharp increase in (confirmed cases) seen weekly has not appeared, resulting in a plateau."

Son explained, "The number of domestic confirmed cases today (353,960) is slightly lower than the approximately 352,000 cases on the same day last week, and this trend has been repeating since last weekend. However, whether the wave is shifting to a genuine decline can only be judged by observing this week's situation."

Regarding the forecast of patient occurrence after the peak, he said, "Since last week, rapid antigen tests at local clinics and hospitals have been recognized, increasing testing capacity, and the share of stealth Omicron is also rising, so it is difficult to determine how clear and fast the decline will be."

Regarding the prediction that the wave will subside once about 10 million people, or 20% of the entire population, are confirmed positive, he responded, "The 20% is not an absolute threshold, and the timing of the peak varies overseas depending on immunity acquisition through vaccination and quarantine responses in each country. Domestically, we believe the impact of stealth Omicron will influence the peak and decline patterns of the wave."

Regarding the increase in critically ill patients, the trend has somewhat slowed, but many severe patients worsened after contracting COVID-19 while having underlying diseases besides COVID-19 symptoms. During the Delta variant wave, when daily confirmed cases were around 7,000, critically ill patients already exceeded 1,100, but currently, even with 300,000 to 400,000 cases, the number remains at 1,000 to 1,100.

Son said, "Currently, critically ill patients being counted are cases where respiratory infection severity worsens, and the increase rate is considerably slower than expected compared to the scale of confirmed cases."

However, he added, "As Omicron cases surge, cases where patients with underlying diseases worsen beyond respiratory symptoms and are transferred to intensive care units are increasing," adding, "Therefore, about 5,500 Omicron-related patients are currently hospitalized in intensive care and semi-intensive care units." He emphasized, "To reduce deaths among these patients with underlying diseases, it is important to ensure smooth treatment of the primary illness rather than focusing solely on respiratory or infection treatment. We are continuously cooperating with the medical community to ensure adequate treatment of underlying diseases."