New Cases 84,128... Tuesday Lowest in 4 Weeks Due to 'Holiday Effect' (Update)

COVID-19 Severe Cases 563... Deaths 37

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] Due to a decrease in testing volume during the Liberation Day holiday, the number of new confirmed COVID-19 cases recorded on Tuesday was the lowest in four weeks.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 16th, as of midnight, 84,128 new confirmed cases were reported, bringing the total cumulative cases to 21,502,164. Among these, 463 cases were imported from overseas.

The number of new confirmed cases decreased by 65,738 compared to a week ago (149,866 cases). This is the lowest figure on a Tuesday in four weeks. The reduction in COVID-19 testing volume during the Liberation Day holiday is believed to have influenced this. On the 9th, the number of tests conducted at screening clinics was 223,314, about twice the number on this day (111,457 tests).

The number of critically ill patients increased by 42 from the previous day to 563. The number of critically ill patients has been increasing by more than 10 daily over the past week. The nationwide critical care bed occupancy rate is 45.5%, with 45.9% in the metropolitan area and 44.6% in non-metropolitan areas. The semi-critical care bed occupancy rate is 65.0% nationwide, with 71.7% in the metropolitan area, about 20 percentage points higher than the 51.2% in non-metropolitan areas.

The number of new deaths decreased by 13 from the previous day to 37. By age group, 21 were aged 80 or older, 10 in their 70s, 5 in their 60s, and 1 in their 50s. The cumulative death toll stands at 25,710, with a fatality rate of 0.12%.

With 80,623 new patients added to home treatment the previous day, the total number of confirmed cases currently under home treatment is 646,124.

The fourth-dose vaccination rate among those aged 50 and over is 29.2%, while for those under 50, it is 13.8%. The fourth-dose vaccination target group under 50 includes immunocompromised individuals, those with underlying conditions, residents and workers in nursing hospitals and facilities, mental health promotion facilities, and homeless and disabled living facilities aged 18 and over.