<Anchor> The number of



new confirmed cases of COVID-19 reached the high 7,000s for two days in a row, and the number of severe cases reached 1,000, a record high. The government warned that the number of confirmed cases could rise to 20,000 in January next year if the epidemic worsens.



Reporter Park Soo-jin reports.



<Reporter> There were



7,622 new confirmed cases of Corona 19 yesterday (15th), recording the 7,000 level for two days in a row.



Excluding 31 imported cases, 7,591 cases were domestically infected.



There were 5,696 cases in the metropolitan area and 1,895 cases in non-metropolitan areas.



The number of critically ill patients increased by 25 a day yesterday to a new high of 989, and there were also 62 deaths, so far 4,518 people have lost their lives to Corona 19.



The quarantine authorities predicted that if the epidemic worsens, the number of confirmed cases could increase by nearly 20,000 in January next year.



[Jung Eun-kyung / Director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: If the epidemic worsens, there may be about 10,000 confirmed cases in December and up to 20,000 people in January next year. It was expected that it could occur even for up to one person.] As the



problem of bed shortage continues, the utilization rate of severe beds is saturated at 81.4% nationwide and 89% in the metropolitan area.



In the metropolitan area, 1,32 people are waiting for hospitalization at hospital beds or living treatment centers.



As the spread of infection continues and social distancing measures are strengthened from the day after tomorrow, the government will restrict all school attendance in the metropolitan area and some non-metropolitan areas starting next Monday and switch to distance learning.



For elementary schools, except for grades 1 and 2, the density is adjusted to less than 5/6 of the total, and 2/3 or less for middle and high schools.



Meanwhile, the number of people infected with the new mutation of Corona 19, the Omicron mutation, increased by 20 to 148.



The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said yesterday that more than 1.05 million people participated in the vaccination.



The third dose, which means booster dose, is 17.3%.