New COVID-19 Cases at 8... Dropped to Single Digits for the First Time in 61 Days (2nd Report)

5 Overseas Inflows... Total 10,661
Deaths 234 · Recoveries Exceed 8,000

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters (Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency), attended the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on COVID-19 response, chaired by Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, at the Government Complex Sejong in Sejong City on the morning of the 16th.

On the 19th, the total number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in South Korea was reported to be 10,661.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced that as of midnight on that day, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases increased by 8 compared to midnight the previous day.

This is the first time in 61 days since February 18 that the daily number of new confirmed cases has fallen below 10, according to CDCH announcements.

However, it is difficult to make an accurate comparison because the CDCH has changed the patient statistics reporting time three times so far.

The daily number of new confirmed cases had remained in single digits until February 18, but after the 31st confirmed case was discovered on the same day, the numbers rose to 34 on February 19, 16 on the 20th, and 74 on the 21st.

Afterwards, as the Shincheonji Daegu Church 'super-spreader' incident intensified, hundreds of new cases were confirmed daily, but the numbers have significantly decreased since the beginning of this month.

From the 9th, the daily new confirmed cases stayed in the 20s to 30s range, maintaining the 20s for five consecutive days from the 13th to the 17th, before dropping to the 10s on the 18th.

Among the new confirmed cases on this day, 3 were from the Seoul metropolitan area. Two were confirmed in Seoul, and one new case was confirmed in Incheon. Additionally, 2 cases were confirmed in Daegu and 1 in Gyeongbuk.

Two cases were confirmed during quarantine. Among the imported cases, 3 were also confirmed in the local community, making a total of 5 cases, accounting for 62.5% of the new confirmed cases that day.

The total number of deaths confirmed in South Korea so far is 234. As of midnight on this day, 2 additional deaths were reported compared to the same time the previous day.

The number of confirmed patients who have recovered and been released from isolation increased by 105 the previous day, totaling 842.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.