2,400 expected today... Highest death toll in 10 months

<Anchor>

Today (5th), the number of new confirmed cases is expected to be around 2,400. The government decided to put more weight on the seriousness rate and the number of deaths than on the number of patients as a criterion for judging the current situation as the phased recovery began, but the number of deaths per day was the highest in 10 months.

By Kim Yong-tae, staff reporter.

<Reporter> As the

group infection continued and quarantine standards were relaxed, the number of new confirmed cases recorded the mid-2000s for two days in a row.

In particular, the death toll increased by 24 in one day, the highest in 10 months since January.

All of the deceased were over the age of 60 and most had underlying medical conditions.

In terms of whether or not they were vaccinated, 6 people were vaccinated, 4 people were incompletely vaccinated, and 14 people were not vaccinated.

[Kim Ki-Nam / Head of Vaccination Planning Division, Vaccination Promotion Division: We emphasize the importance of COVID-19 vaccination once again because the risk of infection, seriousness, and death of those with risk factors such as the elderly or those with underlying diseases increases.]

Cumulative for the past 8 weeks 68% of patients with severe cases were unvaccinated.

Although the number of breakthrough infections after vaccination has been completed, it means that those who are not vaccinated are more at risk than those who have breakthrough infections.

The quarantine authorities are also examining whether it is necessary to extend the booster shot, that is, the booster vaccination interval, from 6 months after the completion of the vaccination.

We are discussing detailed standards for emergency plan measures to temporarily suspend daily recovery if the number of confirmed cases increases in the future.

The government initially suggested that the intensive care unit utilization rate of 75% or higher was the standard for implementing the emergency plan, but explained that the decision would be made in consideration of not only the ability to treat critically ill patients, but also the rate of deaths and epidemic patterns.