With the summer vacation season coinciding with a heatwave, indoor activities have increased, leading to a slight rise in Covid-19 cases recently. It is projected that the spread of Covid-19 will continue through August.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) stated on Friday that the number of hospitalized Covid-19 patients has increased for four consecutive weeks and is expected to continue to rise for the time being. The KDCA urged the public to follow respiratory infection prevention guidelines, including hand washing, cough etiquette, and regular indoor ventilation, to minimize the spread of Covid-19 and protect high-risk groups.
According to the results of a sample survey of hospitalized Covid-19 patients from July 20 to 26, the number of hospitalized patients (221 locations) was 139, showing an increase for four consecutive weeks. Additionally, the number of hospitalized patients at tertiary general hospitals (42 locations) increased to 16, marking a three-week consecutive rise.
The Covid-19 virus detection rate also increased for three consecutive weeks to 20.1 percent during the same period. Sewage monitoring showed an increase in virus concentration compared to the previous week, continuing a four-week upward trend. Considering the recent Covid-19 outbreak trends and the typical summer patterns of previous years, there is a possibility that the increase in Covid-19 cases will continue through August.
“With the recent increase in Covid-19 patients and the onset of the summer vacation season and heatwave, which will lead to an increase in indoor activities, the number of Covid-19 cases will likely continue to rise for the time being,” KDCA Commissioner Lim Seung-kwan said. “To minimize the spread of Covid-19 and protect high-risk groups, it is of utmost importance to strictly observe respiratory infection prevention guidelines, such as hand washing, cough etiquette, and regular indoor ventilation.”
“If you experience symptoms such as coughing or fever that may indicate Covid-19, please seek medical attention at the nearest medical institution and rest until your symptoms subside,” Lim continued. “Although Covid-19 is becoming a chronic infectious disease, with one or two outbreaks per year, special caution is necessary for high-risk groups, including older adults and immunocompromised individuals, as there is a risk of severe progression.”