South Korea’s health authorities expect the current summer coronavirus wave to reach its peak by late August, after which it is predicted to decline, Yonhap news agency reports, citing the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
KDCA Commissioner Jee Young-mee told reporters that while the wave is expected to subside, the focus will be on protecting high-risk individuals, particularly older people.
Jee emphasized that COVID-19’s fatality rate is now comparable to seasonal flu, pointing to data showing a rate of 0.1% since January 2020. This rate was even lower last year at 0.05%, indicating that the Omicron variants have similar fatality rates to seasonal flu.
To ensure continued protection, the government plans to maintain a steady supply of treatments and test kits. Additionally, vaccination programs with vaccines effective against recent variants, such as JN.1, will begin in October.
The KDCA believes that vaccines effective against JN.1 will also be effective against KP.3, given their similar characteristics.
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