COVID-19 Hospitalizations Rise for 9th Consecutive Week in South Korea

South Korea's Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported that COVID-19 hospitalizations have increased for nine consecutive weeks, raising concerns among health authorities as the country prepares for a potential fall surge. According to the latest surveillance data, 399 patients were hospitalized in week 35 (August 24-30), marking an 8.7% increase from the previous week.

Elderly Population Bears Highest Burden

The KDCA announced during its September 5 briefing that COVID-19 hospitalizations have shown a continuous upward trend since week 26 (June 22-28). The data reveals a concerning demographic pattern: elderly individuals aged 65 and older account for 60.6% of all hospitalizations this year, totaling 2,949 out of 4,866 cumulative inpatients.

This demographic breakdown mirrors patterns seen in other developed countries, where older adults face higher risks of severe COVID-19 outcomes. The age distribution shows 18.0% (877 patients) in the 50-64 age group and 10.1% (492 patients) in the 19-49 age bracket, highlighting the vulnerability of senior populations.

"High-risk groups, including the elderly and immunocompromised individuals, face greater risks of severe progression," said KDCA Director Jee Young-mi. "We urge strict adherence to personal prevention measures and active participation in the COVID-19 vaccination program scheduled for October."

Virus Detection Rates Continue Climbing

Alongside rising hospitalizations, virus detection rates have also increased steadily. The COVID-19 virus detection rate in respiratory infection suspected patient samples reached 37.7% in week 35, a 5.1 percentage point increase from the previous week. This indicates active community transmission throughout South Korea.

Despite the concerning upward trend, current hospitalization levels remain significantly lower than last year's summer surge. During the peak of last year's outbreak in week 33, hospitalizations reached 1,441 patients, while week 35 saw 837 patients—both figures substantially higher than this year's 399 hospitalizations.

Health authorities attribute the current increase to several factors common in post-pandemic scenarios: increased social contact during summer vacation season, the return to school, and more indoor activities as people spend increased time in air-conditioned environments during Korea's hot and humid summer months.

Updated Vaccination Program Set for October Launch

The KDCA expects the current surge to continue through September, prompting preparations for the 2024-2025 season COVID-19 vaccination campaign beginning October 11. Free vaccinations will be provided to priority groups including adults aged 75 and older, immunocompromised individuals, and residents of high-risk facilities such as nursing homes.

This year's vaccination program will utilize updated vaccines effective against the JN.1 variant, supplied by Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax. The government has secured 7.55 million vaccine doses specifically designed to provide improved protection against currently circulating virus strains.

For American readers familiar with U.S. vaccination strategies, South Korea's approach follows a similar risk-based prioritization model, focusing resources on the most vulnerable populations first before expanding to broader age groups based on vaccine availability and epidemiological conditions.

Dual Respiratory Virus Season Approaching

Adding to public health concerns, South Korea will also launch its national influenza vaccination program on September 22. In a notable change from previous years, the country will transition from quadrivalent to trivalent influenza vaccines, reflecting the global absence of B/Yamagata strain detection over an extended period.

Medical experts express concern about potential co-circulation of COVID-19 and influenza viruses during the upcoming fall and winter months. This "twindemic" scenario, similar to concerns raised by U.S. health officials in previous years, could strain healthcare resources and complicate clinical diagnosis and treatment.

The timing of South Korea's vaccination campaigns—influenza in September and COVID-19 in October—follows international best practices for seasonal respiratory virus prevention, allowing sufficient time for immune response development before peak transmission seasons.

Long-term Endemic Management Strategy

The current COVID-19 resurgence represents part of South Korea's transition to endemic management following the World Health Organization's end to the pandemic emergency declaration. Health experts anticipate continued seasonal patterns similar to influenza, requiring sustained vigilance and adaptive public health responses.

South Korea's comprehensive surveillance system, which tracks hospitalizations across 221 hospital-level medical institutions, provides valuable real-time data for policy decisions. This approach offers lessons for other countries managing post-pandemic respiratory virus surveillance and response.

The KDCA emphasizes continued importance of basic prevention measures familiar to populations worldwide: mask-wearing in crowded indoor settings, frequent hand hygiene, adequate ventilation, and staying home when experiencing respiratory symptoms.

"We urge the public to maintain basic prevention protocols and avoid crowded places, especially for elderly individuals and those with underlying health conditions," the KDCA stated. "Active participation in vaccination programs remains our most effective tool for preventing severe outcomes."

As South Korea navigates this latest COVID-19 surge, the country's experience provides insights for global health authorities managing similar endemic transitions, emphasizing the continued importance of surveillance, targeted vaccination, and flexible public health responses in the post-pandemic era.