COVID-19 Precautions โคUrged Ahead of Chuseokโฃ Holiday as Hospitalizations โคRemain High
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA -โ South Korean health officials are urging heightenedโ vigilance against COVID-19 as โคthe Chuseok โholiday approaches, citing continued high hospitalization rates despite a slight โคrecent decrease. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) emphasizedโ the need for preventative โคmeasures due to anticipated large-scale movements and gatherings during the conventional harvest festival.
While the number of COVID-19 inpatients โฃin hospital-level medical institutions decreased slightly from 459 to 428โ between September 14-20, levels remain significantly elevated โฃcompared toโ earlier this โขyear โขand are comparable to the same period in 2023. The current figures represent a considerable increase from the 63 inpatients recorded during the 26th week of the yearโ (June 22-28), with a rise observed over the subsequent 11โ weeks.
The KDCA reports that 61% โข(263) of โคcurrent COVID-19 inpatients are aged 65 โขand older, followedโ by 17.5%โฃ (75) in the 50-64 age group, andโ 10.4% (45) between 19-49 years old. the virus detection rate was 31.1% in the 38th week, a slight increase fromโข the previous week, though it hasโ been generally decreasing as peaking at 39% in the 36th week. Sewage surveillance also indicates โฃa decline โin virus concentration.
Despiteโค anticipating a potential decrease in cases after this month, the KDCA โis closely monitoring theโข situation, recognizing the โฃpotential impact of increased social interaction during the Chuseok holiday. KDCA Commissioner โLim Seung-kwanโฃ advised high-risk groups, notably seniors, to minimize participation in large gatherings and toโข wear โคmasks when attending events. He also urged individuals experiencing respiratory symptoms to seek prompt medical care and encouraged adherence to preventative measures such as handwashing, indoor ventilation, and cough etiquette to ensure a healthy Chuseok festivity.