The number of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 showed signs of abating, health authorities said Thursday.

Although the weekly number of COVID-19 inpatients grew last week, the growth rate of hospitalization plunged, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.

The number of COVID-19 patients in 220 hospitals last week came to 1,444, up 5.7 percent from a week earlier, the KDCA said.

That compared with 1,366 patients in the second week of this month, up 55.2 percent from a week earlier, and 880 patients in the first week, up 85.7 percent from a week ago.

"Considering the current trend, the number of infections is expected to decrease after this week or the next," KDCA Commissioner Jee Young-mee said during a meeting with related government agencies.

Jee added that the number of infections this week, previously estimated at 350,000, would likely be "smaller than anticipated."

The KDCA also announced that it has completed the purchase of 260,000 doses of COVID-19 treatments using a reserve fund of 326.8 billion won ($244.8 million), with 177,000 doses set to be available at local pharmacies starting Monday next week.

To prevent the spread of the virus among students, the government has issued guidelines to schools ahead of the new semester, including requiring students to take leave if they exhibit severe COVID-19 symptoms. (Yonhap)