SEOUL, Aug 14 (Yonhap) -- The number of COVID-19 child patients in South Korea surged this month amid a summer wave, according to hospital data released Wednesday, Yonhap News Agency reported.
At 42 pediatric hospitals, there were 1,080 child patients with COVID-19 from August 5 to 9, compared with 387 patients from July 22 to 26, according to data compiled by the Korea Children's Hospital Association.
In particular, the number of COVID-19 child patients in the Chungcheong provinces rose to 301 from August 5 to 9, compared with 54 from July 22 to 26.
"Most COVID-19 paediatric patients are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms, which allows the virus to spread more easily," said Choi Yong-jae, the president of the association.
"As patients with heart disease or diabetes are considered high-risk, they must visit a hospital for additional testing and treatment if tested positive," he added.
The current wave is primarily driven by KP.3, an Omicron subvariant that accounted for 45.5 per cent of COVID-19 cases in South Korea last month and is also fueling the summer wave globally.
Health authorities expect this year's summer wave of COVID-19 to peak later this month.
-- BERNAMA-YONHAP
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