COVID-19 Cases Rising in Neighboring Countries… KCDC Urges Vaccination for High-Risk Groups

Rise in COVID-19 Cases in Neighboring Countries… KCDC Urges Vaccination for High-Risk Groups

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KCDC) has urged the public, especially high-risk groups, to follow respiratory disease prevention guidelines and get vaccinated, in light of increasing COVID-19 cases in countries like Hong Kong and Thailand.

While Korea’s domestic situation remains stable, health officials warn that a potential summer surge cannot be ruled out based on previous patterns.

In the 20th week of 2024 (May 11–17), the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients at 221 designated hospitals in Korea stood at 100—a decrease of 46 compared to the previous week. Over the past four weeks, figures have remained relatively stable with minor fluctuations.

Notably, individuals aged 65 and older accounted for 59.3% (1,376 people) of the total hospitalized cases this year.

The COVID-19 virus detection rate rose to 8.6%, up 5.8 percentage points from the previous week. Wastewater surveillance also showed a slight increase of 3.6 percentage points, prompting continued close monitoring.

As of May 17, the Omicron subvariant LP.8.1 was the most prevalent at 30.8%, followed by NB.1.8.1—a variant within the XDV lineage that has been spreading in Hong Kong—at 21.2%. NB.1.8.1, first detected in Korea in February, shows slightly increased immune evasion, though there’s no confirmed data on its transmissibility or severity.

According to the WHO, 23,164 new COVID-19 cases were reported across 82 countries during the four weeks from April 7 to May 4—down from 46,269 cases in 91 countries during the previous four weeks. The positivity rate in the 18th week was 3.4%, continuing a downward trend.

However, some neighboring countries are seeing a rise in cases:

• Hong Kong: Cases have been increasing since the 9th week of 2024. In the 20th week (May 11–17), 977 cases were reported, slightly down from 1,042 the previous week but still higher than the summer peak of 796 last year. The positivity rate hit a one-year high at 13.80%, and severe cases, including deaths, rose to 27 from 18.
• Taiwan: Outpatient and emergency room visits for COVID-19 reached 19,097 in the 20th week—up 91.3% from the previous week. Most severe cases, including deaths, were among the elderly and those with chronic illnesses who had not been vaccinated.
• Singapore: Confirmed cases increased to 14,200 in the 18th week, a 27.9% jump from the previous week.
• China: The positivity rate among influenza-like illness (ILI) patients rose from 7.5% in the 14th week to 16.2% in the 18th week. However, the Chinese CDC does not expect this summer’s wave to surpass last year’s.

In contrast, the positivity rate remains low in the U.S. (2.9%), the U.K. (5.0%), and Japan (0.94 cases per surveillance site) as of the 19th week.

The KCDC has extended the COVID-19 vaccination campaign for high-risk groups until June 30, 2025. As of May 20, only 47.4% of high-risk individuals had received the vaccine. Authorities are strongly urging the remaining population to get vaccinated.

The currently administered JN.1 vaccine is effective against circulating subvariants like XEC and LP.8.1, showing strong neutralizing antibody responses.

KCDC Commissioner Jee Youngmee stated, “The government is closely monitoring both domestic and international trends. While the situation in Korea is stable, we cannot rule out a summer surge. We ask travelers to outbreak regions to follow prevention measures and report symptoms to quarantine officers upon entry.”

She added, “To prevent transmission and outbreaks in Korea, it’s essential to follow daily preventive practices such as handwashing, cough etiquette, and wearing masks in crowded places. In particular, we urge seniors aged 65 and older, immunocompromised individuals, and those in high-risk facilities to get vaccinated now to prevent severe illness or death.”

[Editor Junbeom]