Health authorities say those most at risk of the novel coronavirus in South Korea are elderly people with prexisting health issues, highlighting that special care is needed to prevent further virus-related fatalities.
Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Jeong Eun-kyeong said on Tuesday that those most at risk are people older than 65 years old with preexisting diseases.
Data showed the mortality rate of virus patients aged 80 or older was 3.7 percent, compared with an average rate of 0.5 percent, based on virus tallies as of late Monday.
However, the KCDC said more than 80 percent of coronavirus cases are not severe and can be treated.
To minimize deaths, the KCDC revised guidelines this week to allow critically ill patients to be swiftly treated in negative-pressure rooms at hospitals while those with mild or moderate symptoms receive care at state-run isolation facilities.■
<Photo: Yonhap News>
