COVID-19 New Cases 31,352... Over 30,000 for Two Consecutive Days (Update)

313 Critically Ill Patients Hospitalized... 31 Deaths

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] The number of new COVID-19 cases in South Korea remained in the 30,000 range for the second consecutive day. The number of critically ill patients has stayed in the 300s for nine days.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 18th, as of midnight, 31,352 new COVID-19 cases were reported, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 17,861,744.

The daily new cases remained in the 30,000 range for the second day, following 35,117 cases the previous day. This is 12,558 fewer than the 43,910 cases reported a week ago on the 11th.

The number of critically ill patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 was 313, down by 20 from 333 the previous day. The number of critically ill patients has been in the 300s for nine consecutive days since the 10th. The nationwide ICU bed occupancy rate for critically ill patients is 16.2%, with 14.2% in the metropolitan area and 20.7% in non-metropolitan areas.

The number of new deaths as of midnight was 31, an increase of 4 from 27 the previous day. The cumulative death toll stands at 23,802, with a fatality rate of 0.13%.

The number of new patients receiving home treatment increased by 32,431 the previous day, bringing the total number of patients currently under home treatment to 175,564. Among them, 12,352 are in the intensive management group receiving health care from medical institutions.

On the 17th, 67,506 elderly people aged 60 and over received their fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose, with the fourth dose vaccination rate for this age group at 25.2%.