Patients in critical condition increasing amid Delta variant spread
Workers move boxes of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at a cargo terminal at Incheon International Airport, Wednesday. YonhapBy Bahk Eun-jiThe number of COVID-19 patients in serious or critical condition is increasing alongside the spread of the more infectious Delta variant strain. This situation is raising concerns that the nation's death rate from the virus, which has dropped due to the vaccination drive, could rise again, considering the Delta and other variants are known to reduce the immune responses of vaccinated people.According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), Thursday, the nation reported 1,776 daily new infection cases for Wednesday, bringing the total to 205,702.As of Wednesday, 369 people were categorized as seriously or critically ill, meaning that they need respirators and are isolated in negative pressure wards. The figure was up 40 from a day before.“Similar to in other countries, we understand that if the infection rate due to the Delta variant increases, the number of patients in critical condition will also rise,” Park Young-joon,
Aug 5, 2021By Bahk Eun-ji