COVID-19 Cases Reach Highest This Year...Increase in Proportion of Those Aged 60 and Over

Weekly Confirmed Cases Increase by 35.8% Compared to Previous Week

The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced on the 26th that the number of new COVID-19 cases from the 16th to the 22nd reached 253,825, marking a 35.8% increase compared to the previous week. The number of confirmed cases had remained between 110,000 and 120,000 in May and June, but in July, it rose to the 150,000 range in the first week (2nd to 8th), and to the 180,000 range in the second week (9th to 15th). In the third week (16th to 22nd), it increased to the 250,000 range. The daily average number of confirmed cases was recorded at 36,261. Notably, from the 18th, the number of confirmed cases exceeded 40,000 for six consecutive days. On the 19th, the number surged to 47,029, the highest level in six months.

The infection reproduction number, which indicates how many people one confirmed case infects, was 1.19, surpassing the spread threshold of 1 for the fourth consecutive week.

Confirmed cases increased across all age groups compared to the previous week. In particular, the size and proportion of confirmed cases among those aged 60 and over showed a marked increase. Last week, confirmed cases in the 60+ age group reached 67,845, a sharp 44% rise from the previous week. The proportion of this age group among all confirmed cases also increased from 25.2% to 26.7% within one week.

The number of severe and critical patients hospitalized last week increased by 16.4% compared to the previous week, averaging 142 patients per day. Deaths rose by 18.6%, from 43 to 51. The daily average number of deaths was 7. Among the daily average of severe and critical patients, 118 (83.1%) were aged 60 or older, and among the daily average deaths, 7.1 (98.0%) were aged 60 or older.

The nationwide intensive care unit (ICU) bed occupancy rate is 34.4%. Among variant viruses, the detection rate of XBB.1.9.2 is on the rise, reaching 27.1%.

However, the health authorities maintained the weekly risk level as "low," considering that the rates of severe illness and fatality were 0.10% and 0.03%, respectively (as of the first week of July), which are lower than during previous outbreaks.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters stated, "COVID-19 cases have been increasing for four consecutive weeks, and unlike previous years, respiratory infectious diseases such as influenza continue to occur even during the summer. Above all, voluntary compliance with quarantine guidelines is crucial." They added, "With increased travel and face-to-face contact during the summer vacation season, it is essential to follow personal quarantine rules such as wearing masks, washing hands with soap for more than 30 seconds, and practicing cough etiquette to prevent respiratory infectious diseases like influenza and COVID-19."