SEOUL. KAZINFORM – New COVID-19 cases in South Korea fell below 50,000 on Monday with fewer virus tests over the weekend, yet the number of critically ill patients hit a two-month high amid a resurgence of the virus fueled through a highly contagious omicron subvariant, Yonhap reports.
The country has added 44,689 new COVID-19 infections, 436 from abroad, bringing the total number of cases to 19,820,739, the Korea Disease Prevention and Control Agency (KDCA) said.
Monday’s figure fell sharply from 73,589 the previous day basically due to the lower number of tests, but it is still higher than the 35,860 instances recorded a week earlier, as the country experienced a resurgence of the virus, triggered by the spread of the subvariant omicron BA. 5. .
It is also the figure for a Monday after the 47,726 registered on April 18.
The spread of new infections has increased the number of critically ill patients.
The country reported 287 critical cases on Monday, the figure after May 18, when the tally was 313.
The KDCA reported 21 covid-19 deaths, bringing the death toll to 25,068. The mortality rate is 0. 13%.
The KDCA said the death rates were consistent with those of those who had not been vaccinated or had only been vaccinated once. Of the 172 deaths reported between July 24 and 30, 61 people, or 36. 5 percent, belonged to either category.
The number of infections has remained in the triple digits since June 24 amid a break from COVID-19 access regulations and a buildup in the number of summer travelers.
The KDCA said the existing wave may peak at around 200,000 cases of infection consistent with the day, one point below expectations and considered manageable.
The government said it planned to reimpose strict social distancing rules to combat the resurgence of the virus in a business solution to continue to emerge from the pandemic and resume general activities.