COVID-19 Cases Decline but... "Be More Careful During Chuseok Holiday"

KDCA Urges Compliance with Preventive Measures Like Handwashing
Free Vaccinations for 75 and Older Starting Next Month 11

As the COVID-19 outbreak subsides, showing a decline for three consecutive weeks, it is important to pay attention to infectious disease prevention guidelines during the Chuseok holiday period, when outings and gatherings such as visiting hometowns and family meetings increase.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) on the 16th, the number of COVID-19 hospitalized patients under sentinel surveillance at 220 hospital-level medical institutions nationwide increased from July until mid-last month, but decreased for three consecutive weeks to 549 patients during the first week of this month, from the 1st to the 7th. This is 37.8% of the 1,452 patients recorded during the peak week of July 11-17.

In sentinel surveillance of severe acute respiratory infections at 42 general hospital-level medical institutions, the number of COVID-19 hospitalized patients was 20 in the first week of this month, a 59.2% decrease compared to the previous week. This is 23.8% of the 84 patients recorded during the peak week of last month, from the 4th to the 10th.

The COVID-19 pathogen detection rate in the first week of this month was 25.7%, down 8.3 percentage points from the previous week. The detection rate of COVID-19 pathogens in domestic influenza and respiratory virus pathogen sentinel surveillance has been steadily decreasing for about a month since July 11. Monitoring results from 84 wastewater treatment plants nationwide also show that the concentration of COVID-19 virus in wastewater has been declining for three consecutive weeks.

The number of COVID-19 patients visiting emergency rooms has also decreased for three consecutive weeks since last month on the 18th. The number of COVID-19 patients visiting emergency rooms in the first week of this month was 2,831, a significant drop compared to 5,214 patients the previous week.

The KDCA stated that although the summer COVID-19 outbreak is on the decline, large-scale movement due to returning home for Chuseok and frequent family visits require careful attention to infectious disease prevention measures such as hand washing and cough etiquette.

Ji Young-mi, head of the KDCA, emphasized, "To protect high-risk groups such as seniors aged 65 and older, please be sure to wear masks when visiting nursing hospitals and similar facilities. If you have a fever or respiratory symptoms, please refrain from visiting, and if you do visit, follow the COVID-19 infection prevention guidelines provided by the institution."

Meanwhile, starting from November 11 next month, free COVID-19 vaccinations for the 2024-2025 season will begin sequentially by age group, starting with seniors aged 75 and older. High-risk groups such as immunocompromised individuals aged six months and older and residents or inpatients of infection-vulnerable facilities can also receive vaccinations from the same day. Seniors aged 70-74 can receive free vaccinations starting October 15, and those aged 65-69 from October 18.