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It is not an exaggeration to say that the current corona situation is explosive. As of 9 pm yesterday (9th), the number of new confirmed cases has already exceeded 5,800, the highest number ever at the same time. Today, the 7,000 is almost certain, and there is a possibility that the record will be broken again. The number of critically ill patients also recorded an all-time high, with more than 1,000 patients waiting on the hospital bed. The government has decided to increase the interval between the third dose.
Reporter Hong Young-jae reports.
<Reporter> As of
9 pm last night, there were 5,803 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, and the number of new cases today is expected to exceed 7,000 for three days in a row.
Since it is the highest number in the same time period, there is a possibility that the number of new cases today will be the largest ever.
As the number of breakthrough infections among the elderly has surged since last month, the aggravation rate, which refers to the proportion of confirmed cases that deteriorate to critically ill, soared to 2.5%.
The number of critically ill patients broke an all-time high of 857, and the number of patients waiting for more than a day in the hospital again exceeded 1,000.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said that if the current epidemic continues, the number of confirmed cases per day could rise to about 8,000 by the end of next month, and to 11,000 if it worsens.
[Jung Eun-kyung / Director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: I think this trend will continue and increase further. Concerns about an exponential increase as the level of quarantine response collapses... .]
Considering that 83% of patients with severe cases are aged 60 years or older, the government believes that the tertiary vaccine is urgent for the elderly.
First of all, the interval between the 3rd dose for those over 60 years of age has been advanced to 3 months after the basic vaccination, and within this month, you can visit the hospital and receive the same day vaccination without prior reservation.
For those aged 18-59 years, the interval between vaccinations has been reduced to at least 4 months.
We decided to try and find measures to contain the spread of infection within the current quarantine system for the time being.
However, there is growing concern that a medical collapse could become a reality while the government hesitates to strengthen quarantine measures by sticking to only the third vaccination and home treatment.