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

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

Jung Eun-kyung, Director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters (Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency), is holding a regular briefing on the domestic COVID-19 outbreak status and interim investigation results of confirmed cases on the afternoon of March 9 at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency in Cheongju, Chungbuk.

On the 19th, the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in South Korea increased by 8 from midnight the previous day, totaling 10,661, according to the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH).

The daily number of new confirmed cases falling below 10 is the first time in 61 days since February 18, based on CDCH announcements.

Until February 18, the daily new confirmed cases had remained in single digits, but after the 31st confirmed case was identified on that day, the numbers rose to 34 on February 19, 16 on the 20th, and 74 on the 21st.

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

However, the CDCH has changed the patient statistics reference time three times so far, making accurate comparisons difficult.

The decrease in the number of tests conducted over the weekend also appears to have influenced the reduction in new confirmed cases. On the weekday of the 17th, 8,371 tests were conducted, but on Saturday the 18th, only 4,275 tests were performed.

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, totaling 5 cases, accounting for 62.5% of the new confirmed cases.

By region, Daegu has the highest cumulative confirmed cases at 6,832, followed by Gyeongbuk with 1,359, Gyeonggi with 654, and Seoul with 624.

By gender, among domestic confirmed cases, females number 6,364 (59.69%), exceeding males at 4,297 (40.31%).

By age group, those in their 20s are the largest at 2,921 (27.40%), followed by those in their 50s at 1,945 (18.24%), 40s at 1,412 (13.24%), and 60s at 1,343 (12.60%).

The total number of deaths confirmed domestically is 234. As of midnight on this day, this is an increase of 2 from the same time the previous day. The average fatality rate is 2.19%, but it rises sharply with age: 2.53% in the 60s, 9.65% in the 70s, and 23.24% for those aged 80 and above.

The number of recovered and released patients increased by 105, totaling 842. The number of patients currently receiving isolation treatment decreased by 99 to 2,385.

The total number of tests conducted so far is 559,109. Of these, 536,205 tested negative, and 12,243 tests are still in progress.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters announces daily COVID-19 patient statistics at 10 a.m. every day, based on data as of midnight that day.

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