CNN says Korea's relatively low death rate from COVID-19 is because of its high vaccination rate. With the Korean government from April 1 exempting fully vaccinated travelers from self-isolation after entering the country, the arrival section at Incheon International Airport's Terminal 1 on the morning of April 3 is full of people waiting for inbound travelers. (Yonhap News)
By Yoon Hee Young
The U.S. news network on April 1 said in an article on the surge in COVID-19 in the Asia-Pacific region including Korea, New Zealand and Vietnam that eased government restrictions and large testing capacity rate have led to a high daily number of positive cases.
On why Korea has seen a relatively lower death rate despite a soaring infection count, CNN said, "Korea (and New Zealand) have high vaccine rates -- but crucially, they have vaccinated their elderly, who are most vulnerable to severe illness and death from the virus."
According to World Health Organization statistics released on March 21, Korea's cumulative fatality rate was 0.13%, significantly lower than those of the U.S. (1.22%), U.K. (0.8%), Germany (0.65%) and France (0.58%).
CNN quoted Son Young-rae, a senior epidemiological strategist at the Central Disaster Management Headquarters in Seoul, as saying in a March 23 briefing, "Once the peak of this Omicron wave passes, we (Korea) will be able to convert to a system that is closer to normal life."
Korea has a relatively high vaccination rate against COVID-19 in the Asia-Pacific region. (Screen capture from CNN's website)
hyyoon@korea.kr
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