Global COVID-19 Cumulative Cases Exceed 28.31 Million, Deaths Surpass 910,000

According to the cumulative confirmed cases status, the United States, which has suffered the most damage, reported 6.58 million cases, India 4.55 million, and Brazil over 4.23 million. Notably, Latin America accounts for one-third of global deaths.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] According to the statistics site Worldometer on the morning of the 11th, the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide has surpassed 28.31 million, and the cumulative death toll has exceeded 910,000.

This figure has more than doubled in three months since recording 450,000 deaths on June 16. Since then, the death toll has been increasing by 100,000 approximately every 17 days.

Looking at the cumulative confirmed cases, the United States, which has suffered the most damage, reported 6.58 million cases, India 4.55 million, and Brazil over 4.23 million.

In particular, it was found that Latin America accounts for one-third of the global death toll.

South Korea has shown signs of stabilization, recording daily cases in the 100s for nine consecutive days since the 3rd, but cluster infections continue mainly in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province.

The quarantine authorities attribute the difficulty in reducing new confirmed cases to double digits to small- and medium-sized cluster infections caused by asymptomatic patients scattered nationwide. In fact, 23 confirmed cases emerged at Sinchon Severance Hospital in Seodaemun-gu, and related to a mountain hiking group cafe in the metropolitan area, 14 additional cases were confirmed in one day on the 10th, increasing the total to 29.

Moreover, infections are occurring nationwide regardless of type, including in goshiwons (small lodging houses), door-to-door sales, and logistics centers, raising concerns as the number of critically ill patients and cases with unclear infection routes is increasing.

In the recent two weeks (August 28 to September 10), cases with unidentified infection routes accounted for 22.9% (695 out of 3,037), and as of midnight on the 10th, there were 169 critically ill patients, with those aged 60 and over making up 85.2% of the total.

The fortunate point is that the reproduction number (R), which indicates the number of people one patient infects, has dropped below 1 nationwide in the past week (September 4?10) from 1.5 at the end of last month.

Specifically, in Seoul, the reproduction number for the week from August 30 to September 5 was 0.87, down from 1.09 in the previous week.

According to media reports, a U.S. public opinion research firm conducted a survey of 14,276 people from 14 advanced countries, including South Korea, and found that 89% of Koreans regarded COVID-19 as a serious national threat.

Koreans are more worried about COVID-19 than citizens of other advanced countries such as Japan (88%), the United States (78%), the United Kingdom (74%), and Canada (67%).

Gangnam-gu has been meticulously responding since the early stages of the COVID-19 crisis by thoroughly disinfecting places where confirmed cases occurred and their movement paths, as well as proactively conducting specimen tests on contacts and nearby residents.

◆Confirmed Cases Status

First, Gangnam-gu reported 2 additional cases on this day, bringing the cumulative confirmed cases in Gangnam-gu to 222.

A resident of Dogok-dong began self-quarantine on the 10th and showed no symptoms, but tested positive after a specimen test at the Gangnam-gu Public Health Center. Another resident of Dogok-dong tested positive in a test conducted just before the end of self-quarantine.

Also, after reclassifying Gangnam-gu residents identified as visitors to Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, the total was confirmed to be 117. As of the 9th, 90 had undergone specimen testing, with 9 testing positive and 81 negative.

Furthermore, 847 Gangnam-gu residents who stayed near the downtown Seoul rally on the 15th of last month were tested, with 3 testing positive, 631 negative, and 61 awaiting testing. The remaining 84 residents are urged to undergo testing as soon as possible.

◆Self-Quarantine Status

As of the 11th, Gangnam-gu manages 1,055 people in self-quarantine, of whom 727 are overseas arrivals and 328 are domestic contacts. Those who have completed the two-week self-quarantine period should not be complacent even if asymptomatic and must visit the Gangnam-gu Public Health Center immediately upon release from quarantine for a mandatory retest.

◆Number of Specimen Tests

The cumulative number of specimen tests conducted at the Gangnam-gu Public Health Center screening clinic is 52,372.

Among the 254 tested the previous day, 31 were overseas arrivals and 223 were domestic residents.

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