A pharmacist arranges COVID-19 treatments at a pharmacy in Seoul on Aug. 22, 2024. Yonhap
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said earlier this week that shipments totaling 262,000 doses have been arriving in phases since mid-August, with approximately 5,000 doses being administered daily.
The number of COVID-19 cases has surged recently, increasing from 226 in the third week of July to 1,444 by the third week of August.
The sudden spike has led to a shortage of treatments, prompting the KDCA to spend 326.8 billion Korean won (approximately US$246 million) to acquire additional supplies.
The newly-secured shipments will primarily be allocated to the elderly and immunocompromised individuals until October.
While the fatality rate of COVID-19 has dropped sharply to levels similar to seasonal flu, the KDCA urges the elderly and vulnerable to remain cautious by adhering to preventive measures such as mask-wearing and maintaining proper hygiene.
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