"Shortage of COVID-19 Diagnostic Kits and Therapeutics Temporary... Concern Over Spread Immediately After Holidays"

"Patient Increase Expected Over the Next 1-2 Weeks"

Notice on Dispensing Treatment Drugs Posted at Pharmacies Regarding the Surge in COVID-19 Patients. Photo by Yonhap News

As the COVID-19 virus resurges, causing shortages of diagnostic kits and treatments such as Paxlovid, Hong Jeong-ik, Director of the Infectious Disease Policy Bureau at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), pointed out that this is a "temporary shortage." He analyzed that the supply shortage will be resolved as companies increase production again.

On the 13th, during MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus,' Director Hong explained the shortage of diagnostic kits and treatments, saying, "This is a temporary shortage caused by reduced usage as COVID-19 stabilized, leading to lower supply," and added, "Companies are increasing production, so there will be sufficient supply, and there should be no inconvenience." The weekly usage of COVID-19 treatments surged about 33 times, from 1,272 doses in the fourth week of June to 42,000 doses in the last week of July.

According to the KDCA's sample surveillance of 220 hospital-level medical institutions on the 13th, the number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 from June 28 to July 3 was 861, approximately 1.8 times higher than the previous week's 475. The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations has steadily increased since recording 91 patients in the first week of July. From the third week of July with 226 patients to the fourth week with 475 patients, hospitalizations have roughly doubled each week since late last month.

The government has not conducted a full survey of confirmed cases since August 31 last year, when COVID-19 was reclassified as a level 4 sample surveillance infectious disease. Therefore, the total number of confirmed cases is not fully known. However, trends such as increases or decreases in confirmed cases are monitored during sample periods. The KDCA analyzes trends by conducting sample surveillance of 220 hospital-level medical institutions nationwide.

Although there is a continuous upward trend, projections suggest that cases may increase further over the next one to two weeks, following the typical summer surge pattern. Director Hong explained, "After observing COVID-19 for two years, we found that it surges significantly in winter and less so in summer," adding, "After school vacations and holidays end, when many people gather, the spread is expected to accelerate."

Regarding the start of vaccinations in October, Director Hong stated, "It will take time to develop a vaccine suitable for the currently circulating KP.3 variant, so there is none available at the moment," and added, "The JN.1 vaccine, which is in the immediate preceding stage, is currently under pharmaceutical company approval." He further noted, "If approval is granted by late August or early September, preparations are underway to use it immediately."

Currently, the KDCA plans to maintain the lowest COVID-19 crisis level, the 'Interest' stage. However, to respond to the spread of the outbreak, they are considering upgrading the current 'Countermeasure Team' to a 'Countermeasure Headquarters.' They judge that the risk of the disease itself has significantly decreased compared to before. According to the KDCA, the cumulative fatality rate is about 0.1%, which is below the fatality rate of seasonal influenza in the United States.

Director Hong explained, "As the virus continues to mutate, symptoms have become very mild, making it difficult to distinguish COVID-19 from other colds based on symptoms alone," adding, "The spectrum ranges from asymptomatic to severe symptoms, but the likelihood of severe cases is low, and the number of asymptomatic or mild patients has greatly increased." He continued, "For young people, it is recommended to rest like with common respiratory infections, drink plenty of water, and manage fever and headaches with antipyretics," emphasizing, "For elderly individuals at higher risk of severe illness, active prescription of treatments is being recommended."