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South Korea, for the second day in a row, reported more than 500 new cases of nCoV infection, the highest level since early March, raising the risk of a lack of hospital beds.
South Korea registered 569 more cases of nCoV in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of infections to 32,887, of which 516 died, an increase in one case. A day earlier, the number of new infections in Korea reached 583, the highest number since March 6, the time when the country was recovering from Covid-19 and one of the largest epidemic areas in the world.
“The situation is extremely serious and urgent. The 17 major cities and provinces, especially the 25 districts of Seoul, are experiencing new infections,” said South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun. at a press conference on Covid-19 today.
A deserted shopping street in Seoul, South Korea, on Nov. 23. Image: Reuters.
Of the last recorded nCoV cases, 525 cases were in the country and more than 64% of them came from the Seoul metropolitan area, according to the Korea Agency for Disease Prevention and Control.
Authorities warn that the new wave of infections is more difficult to track and prevent than early outbreaks, which are concentrated in a specific area or within a certain religious community.
Prime Minister Chung warned that if the spread of the virus is not controlled, the number of new infections each day could reach 1,000, which carries the risk of lack of beds. According to the Korean Ministry of Health, the number of hospital beds currently meets the needs of Covid-19 patients, but is likely to be meager if the current increase persists for more than two weeks.
This week, the Korean government reimposed strict rules of social exclusion in Seoul and the surrounding areas, restricting dining in restaurants and cafes, religious activities and entertainment services. night. The move comes just a month after the same restrictions were eased, as the second wave of Covid-19 appeared to have subsided.
Experts say that epidemic fatigue is a major factor leading to the emergence of the third wave Covid-19 in some Asian countries. South Korean Deputy Health Minister Kang Do-tae also cited three other reasons why nCoV spread more strongly, including asymptomatic infections, transmission among young people, and colder weather, leading to the spread of viruses. thrive because people increase indoor activities.
Gloss (According to the Reuters)
