Club-Originated Spread Slows... COVID-19 New Cases in Double Digits for Two Consecutive Days (Comprehensive)

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters (Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency), is holding a regular briefing on the domestic occurrence status of COVID-19 and the interim investigation results of confirmed patients on the afternoon of the 8th at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency in Cheongju, Chungbuk. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Geum Bo-ryeong] On the 17th, the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in South Korea increased by 13, indicating that the spread originating from Itaewon clubs appears to be slowing down.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced that as of midnight on that day, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases increased by 13 compared to the previous day at midnight. Among them, 6 cases were domestically transmitted, and 7 were imported cases. This brings the total cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Korea to 11,050.

The number of new confirmed cases remained in the double digits following the previous day. Although the majority of visitors to the Itaewon clubs in Seoul, where cluster infections occurred, have been tested, additional infection cases are decreasing.

Among the 13 new confirmed cases, 6 were infected domestically. By region, 4 cases were added in Seoul, and 1 case each in Daegu and Daejeon. Seven cases were confirmed among those who entered the country from overseas.

The number of new confirmed cases remained in single digits until the 7th of this month based on the CDCH announcement date, then increased to 12 and 18 on the 8th and 9th, respectively. On the 10th and 11th, the numbers reached the 30s (34 and 35), and from the 12th to the 15th, they stayed in the 20s (27, 26, 29, 27), before dropping to 19 the previous day.

However, since 'fourth-generation transmission' has occurred and the possibility of community infection remains, the health authorities are maintaining vigilance, emphasizing that "complacency is absolutely forbidden."

The death toll remains at 262, with no additional deaths reported the previous day.

The number of confirmed cases released from isolation after recovery increased by 37, totaling 9,888. The number of patients currently receiving treatment decreased by 24 to 900.

On the previous day, 7,008 people underwent COVID-19 diagnostic testing, bringing the total number of people tested so far to 747,653. Among them, 718,943 were confirmed 'negative,' and 17,660 are still undergoing testing.

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