The number of COVID-19 patients recuperating at home stood at about 60,000 nationwide as of Wednesday, less than half the peak seen on Sept. 1, according to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry.
This appears to reflect the decrease in new infections, but the figure is still high, exceeding those seen at the height of the third and fourth waves.
As of Wednesday, a confirmed 60,532 patients were recuperating at home, compared to 135,859 on Sept. 1. Wednesday's figure was nearly 1.7 times the third wave peak of 35,394 on Jan. 20, and the fourth wave peak of 34,537 on May 12.
The number of newly infected patients has decreased by more than 60% in the past two weeks. The ministry's COVID-19 advisory body attributed this to the weakened impact of factors that heighten infections, such as consecutive holidays and summer vacations. Prolonged rain also reduced opportunities for people to go out, the advisory body said.
It likewise pointed to people changing their behavior due to extensive media coverage of the severe medical situation, and progress in vaccinating the public, including members of the working generations.
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