Global COVID-19 Cases Surpass 9 Million...Growing Concerns Over Second Wave

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Jeong Hyeon-jin, Choi Dae-yeol, Son Seon-hee] As the total number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) worldwide surpassed 9 million, concerns about a second wave of the pandemic have grown. Recently, the number of confirmed cases has been rapidly increasing, especially in Latin America, and cases are rising again in countries already affected by the spread such as South Korea, the United States, and Germany. The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that "the increase in confirmed cases is not simply due to expanded testing," indicating that the spread is serious.

According to the international statistics site Worldometer, as of 10 a.m. on the 23rd, the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide was counted at 9,186,000. The death toll has exceeded 470,000. WHO announced that on the 21st alone, more than 183,000 new confirmed cases were reported, marking the highest level since the outbreak of COVID-19 in December last year. Mike Ryan, head of WHO’s Health Emergencies Program, said, "While some increases in confirmed cases are due to increased testing in countries like India, the rise in cases is not solely because of this."

The regions where COVID-19 confirmed cases are intensively increasing include Latin America, especially Brazil. Brazil reported more than 24,300 new confirmed cases yesterday, pushing the cumulative total beyond 1.11 million.

Concerns about a second wave of COVID-19 are also growing. In the United States, which has the highest number of confirmed cases, more than 30,000 new cases were confirmed in a single day. In Germany, cluster infections have occurred consecutively, causing the COVID-19 reproduction number to surge sharply yesterday. Larry Kudlow, chairman of the U.S. White House National Economic Council (NEC), tried to ease concerns by stating, "There is no second wave. There are only localized outbreaks (hotspots)."

In Beijing, China, 249 confirmed cases have been reported so far from a cluster infection that began on the 11th at the Xinfadi wholesale agricultural market. Yang Gong-hwan, former deputy director of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, assessed that the recent spread of COVID-19 in Beijing is not the start of a second wave but mentioned that if the virus does not disappear before winter, the possibility of a second wave cannot be ruled out.

In South Korea, the quarantine authorities have acknowledged that a second wave is underway. Cluster infections that began mainly in the metropolitan area are spreading nationwide, and the number of imported cases is also increasing. According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, 46 new confirmed cases were identified on this day. Among them, 30 cases are presumed to be imported, including a mass infection among crew members who arrived on a Russian vessel. The remaining 16 cases were infected within the local community. Of the community cases, 11 were in the metropolitan area, 4 in Daejeon, and 1 additional case was reported in Daegu. The cumulative number of confirmed cases in the country rose to 12,484.

President Moon Jae-in held a "Cabinet Meeting and Metropolitan Area Quarantine Countermeasures Meeting" at the Blue House on the same day and assessed, "We are at a critical juncture where we must reduce the number of new confirmed cases further and quickly move to a stable situation." He also urged the public, saying, "Our COVID-19 situation is still within a controllable and manageable range. Please endure just a little longer until the situation stabilizes."

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