Gyeonggi Province Reports 14,735 COVID-19 Confirmed Cases and 273 Deaths Over One Year

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park Nohoon] Over the past year in Gyeonggi Province, 14,735 people received a COVID-19 diagnosis, and 273 confirmed cases died while undergoing treatment. By age group, the number of confirmed cases was highest among those in their 80s, and 92.7% of deaths occurred in the elderly aged 65 and older.

Lim Seung-gwan, head of Gyeonggi Province's COVID-19 Emergency Response Task Force, announced 2020 COVID-19 confirmed and death statistics for Gyeonggi Province at a regular press conference on the 5th and stated, "We will not repeat past mistakes and will respond to COVID-19 with a new approach to protect the health and lives of residents."

Over the past year, a total of 14,735 people in Gyeonggi Province received a COVID-19 diagnosis. The number of confirmed cases per 100,000 population in Gyeonggi Province is 111.2. As a percentage, this is 0.11%, slightly exceeding one per thousand people.

The age group with the highest number of confirmed cases per 100,000 population is those aged 80 and older with 223.8 per 100,000. The next highest are those in their 60s with 170.5, those in their 70s with 150.9, and those in their 50s with 119.4.

Over the past year, a total of 273 confirmed cases in Gyeonggi Province died while undergoing treatment. The median age of the deceased is 82 years old. 92.7% of deaths occurred in the elderly population aged 65 and older.

During December last year, when COVID-19 cases surged, 7,362 people were confirmed in Gyeonggi Province. This is nearly similar to the 7,373 confirmed cases over eleven months from January through November.

In December, there were 157 deaths. The death rate, calculated simply by taking December deaths as the numerator and December confirmed cases as the denominator, is 2.13%. The death rate for the previous eleven months was 1.57%, representing an increase of approximately 1.36 times.

Of 157 deaths in December, a total of 99 cases were related to infections in vulnerable facilities such as nursing hospitals, nursing homes, and adult day care centers. Approximately 63.0% of deaths were associated with cluster infections in vulnerable facilities. Additionally, 38 cases were investigated where deaths occurred at facilities that did not transfer patients to dedicated hospitals and implemented in-facility isolation measures. This represents approximately 24.2% of total December deaths.

The survival period from diagnosis to death also became notably shorter in December. From January through November, the average treatment period after confirmation was 18.9 days until death. However, in December, it decreased to 13.5 days, a reduction of approximately 6.4 days, suggesting a lack of adequate opportunities for critical patient care.

As of 0 o'clock on the 5th, Gyeonggi Province's confirmed case count increased by 230 from the previous day for a total of 15,663, with confirmed cases occurring in 28 cities and counties across the province. The province's secured medical institution beds, combining general and severe patient beds, total 915 beds, with a current bed occupancy rate of 82.4% using 754 beds. Among these, 87 beds are for severe patient treatment, with 68 currently in use and a current occupancy rate of 78.1%.

As of 18:00 on the 4th, 1,535 people have been admitted to seven general life treatment centers from Gyeonggi Province's facilities numbered 3rd through 10th, showing a 55.1% occupancy rate with a remaining capacity of 1,251 people. The 1st special life treatment center has 57 people admitted with a remaining capacity of 10 people and an occupancy rate of 85.1%.