"COVID-19 Cases Expected to Continue Rising for Over Two Weeks"

KDCA Holds Joint Response Team Meeting on August 12
320,000 COVID-19 Treatments Stockpiled
"Prepared to Respond to a Potential Outbreak"

The government has forecast that the number of COVID-19 cases will continue to rise for at least the next two weeks, considering the current trend of the outbreak. Authorities have urged the public to adhere to personal hygiene guidelines, such as proper cough etiquette, to help prevent infectious diseases.

Number of COVID-19 Inpatients in Hospital-Level Medical Institutions (2024?2025 Week 31) (Source: Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency)

On August 12, Lim Seungkwan, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), made this announcement during the 6th Joint Response Team Meeting on Respiratory Infectious Diseases, which included officials from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and relevant experts.

According to the KDCA, the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients at 221 hospital-level sample surveillance medical institutions nationwide has increased for five consecutive weeks, surpassing 200 patients in week 31 of this year (July 27-August 2). The numbers have steadily risen from 63 in week 26 (June 22-28), to 101 in week 27, 103 in week 28, 123 in week 29, and 139 in week 30. The United States and Japan, countries with frequent travel to and from Korea, have also seen an increase in COVID-19 cases over the past five weeks.

Given the rise in COVID-19 cases both domestically and internationally, the KDCA is continuously monitoring domestic COVID-19 trends, the operation of the medical response system, and the supply status of COVID-19 treatments in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Authorities are also regularly checking the inventory and distribution of treatments and plan to consult with suppliers to arrange early imports and increase supply in the event of a large-scale outbreak.

Commissioner Lim stated, "As of August 7, the domestic inventory of COVID-19 treatments is sufficient for 320,000 people, which is adequate to respond to an outbreak similar in scale to last summer," adding, "The KDCA, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and related organizations are maintaining a cooperative system to ensure the smooth preparation and supply of treatments."

The Ministry of Health and Welfare is monitoring the situation to help distribute mild COVID-19 patients who visit emergency rooms and is also considering measures such as reopening fever clinics.

Starting in mid-October, vaccinations will begin using a new vaccine (targeting the LP.8.1 variant) that addresses the COVID-19 variants currently circulating worldwide. The target groups include people aged 65 and older, immunocompromised individuals aged six months and older, and residents or inpatients of facilities vulnerable to infection-those considered high-risk for COVID-19.

Commissioner Lim once again urged the public to follow COVID-19 prevention guidelines, such as covering the mouth and nose with a sleeve when coughing or sneezing and wearing a mask when going out if experiencing respiratory symptoms like fever or sore throat. He also recommended that people aged 65 and older or those who are immunocompromised wear masks in crowded or enclosed indoor spaces and seek prompt medical care if they develop respiratory symptoms such as fever.