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The number of additional confirmed cases exceeded 2,000 for the first time since the gradual recovery of daily life began this week. In particular, the number of patients is increasing in places that are vulnerable to infection, such as nursing homes. So, the government decided to advance the schedule for one more vaccination at such a vulnerable facility by four weeks ahead of schedule.
Correspondent Park Chan-geun.
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is a nursing hospital in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul.
Since one employee was first confirmed on the 28th of last month, 13 people have been infected with COVID-19.
Since last August, there have been 160 collective infections and 2,424 confirmed cases in nursing hospitals, nursing facilities, and mental hospitals.
The number of breakthrough infections is the most worrisome.
[Sohn Young-rae/Chairman of Social Strategy Team, Central Accident Resolving Headquarters: These are vulnerable facilities that have been vaccinated first since the end of February this year, and the period of weakening immunity is coming.]
There are many elderly people over 60 at these facilities, making it even more dangerous. .
In fact, if you look at the percentage of confirmed cases by age group over the past five weeks, the number of people in their 60s and older is steadily increasing even though the age group with the highest vaccination completion rate.
For this reason, the quarantine authorities decided to advance the so-called 'boost shot', or booster vaccination, for workers and residents of this infection-vulnerable facility by four weeks, and vaccinate only five months after the completion of the vaccination.
The general public over the age of 60 is also considering a plan to speed up the booster vaccination.
Quarantine authorities predicted that the impact of Halloween, which had a large crowd of people, would appear next week.
In addition, as quarantine rules are eased with a step-by-step recovery of daily life and the amount of movement and gatherings increase, the increase in the number of confirmed cases is expected to be unavoidable for the time being.
So, starting tomorrow, we will form a 'Government Joint Special Inspection Team' for two weeks to intensively crack down on violations of regulations in entertainment facilities, restaurants, cafes, and facilities that apply the quarantine pass.
There are currently 378 people in severe cases and 18 deaths in a single day, and quarantine authorities said the current medical response system is stable.
(Video coverage: Kim Gyun-jong, Video editing: Kim Jong-mi, CG: Jo Su-in)