Concerns Rise Over COVID-19 Resurgence... Government to Fully Expand Vaccine Eligibility to 'Adults Aged 18 and Over'

Expansion of Vaccines Administered from One Bivalent Vaccine to Three Bivalent Vaccines
New Confirmed Cases Remain in the 40,000s for Two Consecutive Days... Weekly Infection Reproduction Number Exceeds '1' for the First Time in 9 Weeks

On the 25th, when the number of new COVID-19 cases was recorded at 43,759, entering the 40,000 range for the first time in 34 days, citizens were undergoing PCR tests at the screening clinic of Yongsan-gu Public Health Center in Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] As concerns about a resurgence of COVID-19 grow due to the emergence of new variants and dropping temperatures, the government is expanding the target group for additional winter vaccinations to all adults aged 18 and over, and increasing the available vaccines from one type of bivalent vaccine to three types.

On the 26th, Lee Sang-min, the 2nd Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) and Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, stated, "The declining trend over the past two months has reversed to an upward trend," adding, "Concerns about a resurgence are growing due to the emergence of new variants and falling temperatures."

On the same day, the number of new confirmed cases was around 40,000, marking the second consecutive day with figures in the 40,000 range. The weekly infection reproduction number also exceeded '1' for the first time in nine weeks. Notably, the weekly severe case rate across all age groups increased from 0.12% in the fifth week of August to 0.19% in the first week of October, and the weekly fatality rate rose from 0.06% to 0.09% during the same period.

Deputy Head Lee emphasized, "Both the intensive care unit bed occupancy rate and the overall hospital bed occupancy rate remain in the 20% range, so medical resources are sufficient, but the recent changes in severe case and fatality rates over the past few weeks could place a burden on the future medical response system."

Accordingly, the government has decided to expand additional winter vaccinations by reflecting domestic and international quarantine situations and the introduction of new bivalent vaccines. Deputy Head Lee explained, "We will expand the vaccination target group from the current vulnerable health groups to all adults aged 18 and over," and "We will also expand the vaccination vaccines from one type of bivalent vaccine to three types."

He also urged adherence to basic quarantine rules. Deputy Head Lee said, "Recently, the number of cases of not wearing masks or wearing them improperly on the subway has doubled compared to earlier this year," and added, "Please be sure to follow basic quarantine rules such as wearing masks indoors and regular ventilation."