Coughing Everywhere... Citizens Tremble at the Resurgence of COVID-19

[Financial News] "I never thought I would catch COVID-19 again." Office worker Mr. Kim (32) recently experienced a sore throat and persistent mild cough symptoms for over three days. His fever rose to 40 degrees, making daily life impossible. After a test at the hospital, he was diagnosed positive for COVID-19. To make matters worse, his one-year-old child was also infected.
Recently, as the number of COVID-19 patients continues to rise, there is a diagnosis that the resurgence of COVID-19 is reaching its peak. The government and experts emphasized adherence to personal quarantine rules and periodic ventilation of multi-use facilities.
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on the 24th, in the 33rd week of this year (August 10-16), 302 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized in 221 sample medical institutions nationwide. This is an 11.03% increase from 272 patients a week earlier, marking a seven-week consecutive increase.
One of the reasons for the continued spread is the continuous emergence of new variant viruses. Typically, the risk of infection increases when a new variant becomes dominant. In the Northern Hemisphere, the dominant strain changes and outbreaks occur when transitioning from spring to summer and from autumn to winter. This year, between spring and summer, the previously dominant domestic strain LP.8.1 was replaced by the NB.1.8.1 variant.
The immune status is also pointed out as one of the main causes. The preventive effect of immunity through disease infection or vaccination lasts about six months. Antibodies of those who contracted COVID-19 or were vaccinated last year decrease as they pass through winter and spring. Professor Eom Joong-sik of Gachon University College of Medicine's Department of Infectious Diseases explained, "The population group at risk of contracting COVID-19 increases significantly in summer, leading to repeated outbreaks."
As the spread of COVID-19 intensifies, citizens are on high alert. Mr. Lee (32), a resident of Seodaemun-gu who sends his 5-year-old child to daycare, said, "Nowadays, even if someone at the daycare is confirmed positive, they just tell us to rest if we want, so when someone says they have COVID-19, my heart sinks," adding, "Since we are not responding as thoroughly as before, it seems to spread more quietly and quickly."
Interest in COVID-19 diagnostic kits has also increased. Mr. Lim (27), a resident of Mapo-gu, said, "I had a cough and runny nose and felt weak, so I went to buy a diagnostic kit at the pharmacy, but only the third pharmacy I visited sold them," adding, "I bought two sets thinking I might not be able to get them again." According to Naver Data Lab's search trend, the search volume for 'COVID kit' (0-100) increased significantly from 40 on July 11 to 81 on the 9th of this month.
The quarantine authorities urged adherence to personal quarantine rules. Director Lim Seung-kwan of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said, "Although COVID-19 is transitioning to an endemic disease, the elderly and immunocompromised still need special care," emphasizing, "In enclosed indoor spaces or multi-use facilities, wearing masks should be a habit, and if you have respiratory symptoms, you should refrain from going out and seek medical attention."

jyseo@fnnews.com Seo Ji-yoon Reporter