Self-testing kits for COVID-19 are displayed at a convenience store in Seoul, Friday. Only four months after fully shifting to an endemic approach to COVID-19, the government is now moving to resume vaccinations as part of efforts to contain the virus amid a surge in cases. Newsis

Just four months after fully shifting to an endemic approach to COVID-19, the government is now resuming its vaccination program to help contain the virus amid a resurgence in cases.

According to health authorities on Sunday, the number of patients hospitalized for the new COVID variant, KP.3, has increased sharply in many parts of Korea over the past several weeks, prompting officials to take necessary measures to minimize damage.

Data released by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) shows the number of people admitted to 220 hospitals nationwide for COVID-19 jumped to 861 in the first week of August from 148 in the second week of July.

The total number of cases is unknown. But the agency said the results of its sampling showed that 39.2 percent of respiratory virus pathogens were COVID-19, up from 13.6 percent during that period, with the particular variant accounting for nearly half of all cases.

In response, the agency will conduct a mass immunization program in October with vaccines developed specifically for KP.3 and other variants descended from JN.1. The agency added it strongly urges the public to take the shots along with influenza vaccines before the winter, during which the general risk of respiratory infections will be greater.

Details of the vaccination program will be announced next month. Officials are now working to secure the newest COVID-19 vaccines for Korean citizens.

Vulnerable people, including those aged 65 or older, as well as workers at high-risk facilities such as specialized hospitals for seniors and homeless shelters, can take the vaccine shots for free, according to the agency. Others can also obtain them at their own expense.

The government's previous mass vaccination program ended on March 31. The following month, it announced that it would lift some last-remaining COVID mandates, including indoor mask requirements for hospitals, from May. That month, the disaster level of COVID-19 was also lowered to the lowest level, "concern," from the second-highest level, "alert."

After assessing the situations in other countries, where the variant has already spread, the agency said the current outbreak would not likely result in an alarming surge in severe cases and the capacity of the nation's medical system would be sufficient to handle the increasing number of new patients.

In response to the rise in demand for face masks, coronavirus self-testing kits and medicines, officials said they have been stepping up efforts to increase supplies.

Nevertheless, a surge in COVID-19 cases causes further concerns in Korea as officials have already been scrambling to contain the spread of foot-and-mouth disease, whooping cough and other contagious illnesses amid a sharp rise in cases in recent weeks.

Last week, an infectious disease specialist at the World Health Organization told journalists in Geneva that the percentage of positive tests for COVID-19 was increasing in 84 countries over the past several weeks, including at the 2024 Paris Olympics where at least 40 athletes were confirmed to have been infected.