25 New COVID-19 Cases Reported Before Outbreak...Ongoing Concerns Over Itaewon Club-Originated 'Nth Wave Infection' (Comprehensive)

Jung Eun-kyung, Head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The number of new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has remained in the 20s for three consecutive days, indicating ongoing sporadic infections.

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) Central Disease Control Headquarters announced on the 24th at midnight that 25 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed. This brings the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 11,190.

The number of new confirmed cases recorded 20 on the 22nd, 23 on the 23rd, and has remained in the 20s for three consecutive days. Among the confirmed cases, 17 were domestic transmissions and 8 were imported cases.

The number of newly released from quarantine was 19, bringing the total to 10,213 (91.3%) who have been released from isolation, with 711 currently in quarantine. There were no additional deaths, keeping the cumulative death toll at 266. The overall fatality rate is 2.38%, with age-specific fatality rates at 0.16% for those in their 30s, 0.2% for those in their 40s, and 0.75% for those in their 50s, but significantly higher among the elderly at 10.85% for those in their 70s and 26.27% for those aged 80 and above.

By region, new confirmed cases were 6 each in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Gyeongbuk, 2 in Incheon, and 1 in Gangwon. Four cases were detected during quarantine.

As confirmed cases continue to emerge from the Itaewon club-related 'n-th generation infections,' the spread is extending not only in the metropolitan area but also to provincial regions, causing concern among health authorities. Especially with high school seniors returning to school, followed by middle and elementary school students sequentially this week and next, the upcoming two weeks are expected to be a critical period determining whether COVID-19 will resurge or subside.

Meanwhile, health authorities are conducting COVID-19 tests on 20,333 individuals. The total number of people tested so far is 820,289.

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