Even today (20th), the third day after the gradual recovery of daily life was suspended and returning to social distancing, close to 1,000 patients with severe Corona 19 occurred.
The number of new confirmed cases fell again to the 5,000 level in six days.
This appears to be the result of a decrease in the number of weekend inspections.
The Central Quarantine Countermeasures Headquarters announced that as of 00:00 today, there were 5,318 new confirmed cases, bringing the total to 575,417.
The number of new confirmed cases is 918 fewer than yesterday (6,313) and 499 fewer than the 13th a week ago (5,817).
As the spread of Corona 19 grows, there are 7,000 new confirmed cases on weekdays.
The number of patients with severe serious illness was 997, down below 1,000, but it is still the third largest number in history.
On the 18th and 19th, the number of patients with severe severe cases recorded more than 1,000, with 1,16 and 1,25, respectively.
From the 14th to today, it is the 7th day (906 → 964 → 989 → 971 → 1,16 → 1,25 → 997) more than 900 people.
Due to the increase in the number of severe cases, the beds for critically ill patients with COVID-19 are saturated.
As of 5 p.m. yesterday, the utilization rate of hospital beds with severe COVID-19 was 80.9% nationwide.
The metropolitan area (Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon) accounted for 87.8%, which was close to 90%.
Yesterday, 54 patients died due to COVID-19.
The cumulative death toll is 4,776, and the domestic cumulative fatality rate is 0.84%, the same as yesterday.
The number of cumulative infections in Korea, the new Corona 19 mutant virus, Omicron, is 178, the same as yesterday.
Nine people are classified as 'suspicious infections' and are being tested, but no additional infections have been found.
(Photo = Yonhap News)