121 New COVID-19 Cases '11th Day in 100s'... Level 2.5 to Be Decided Today

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced on the 13th at midnight that the number of new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in South Korea increased by 121, bringing the total to 22,176.

The number of new confirmed cases has remained in the 100s for 11 consecutive days since the 3rd. The scale of confirmed cases on this day was slightly lower than the 136 cases reported the previous day. By infection route, 99 cases were locally transmitted, and 22 were imported from overseas.

The number of new confirmed cases peaked at 441 on the 27th of last month after the outbreak in the Seoul metropolitan area. Since then, the numbers have decreased as follows: 371 → 323 → 299 → 248 → 235 → 267 → 195 → 198 → 168 → 167 → 119. From the 8th, the numbers increased again to 136 → 156 → 155 → 176, but have slightly decreased for two consecutive days (136, 121) since the previous day.

The number of COVID-19 tests was 19,620 and 16,246 on the 10th and 11th, respectively, which were weekdays, but dropped to 7,813 on the previous day, a Saturday. The decrease in the number of confirmed cases on this day may have been partly influenced by this reduction in testing.

Excluding imported cases, the number of locally transmitted confirmed cases was 99, marking the first time in 30 days since the 14th of last month (85 cases) that the number fell below 100. By region, 30 cases were reported in Seoul, 27 in Gyeonggi, and 3 in Incheon, totaling 60 new cases in the metropolitan area. The number of locally transmitted cases in the metropolitan area was in double digits for the second consecutive day following 86 cases the previous day. Outside the metropolitan area, 14 cases were reported in Daegu, 9 in Chungnam, 4 in Ulsan, 3 in Busan, 2 each in Gwangju, Daejeon, Gyeongbuk, and Gyeongnam, and 1 in Gangwon.

New cluster infection cases also emerged across the country the previous day. Major infection cases include 10 confirmed cases related to K Health Industry in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and the cumulative confirmed cases at the San Yangsam business briefing in Chilgok-gun, Gyeongbuk increased to 8.

Additionally, further confirmed cases were reported in previously identified cluster outbreaks such as the Gwanghwamun downtown rally (cumulative 565 cases), Severance Hospital in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul (23 cases), Ilreonjeongjong Seoul Buddhist Temple in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul (23 cases), Coupang logistics center in Songpa-gu, Seoul (19 cases), daytime care center in Icheon-si, Gyeonggi (18 cases), health food briefing in Daejeon (54 cases), and Seomgim Nursing Home in Geumsan-gun, Chungnam (10 cases).

There were 22 imported confirmed cases on this day, of which 7 were identified during quarantine inspections at airports or ports. The remaining 15 were confirmed while in self-quarantine at their residences or temporary living facilities in Gyeonggi (5 cases), Ulsan (3 cases), Chungnam and Jeonbuk (2 cases each), and Seoul, Gwangju, and Gyeongnam (1 case each). Combining local and imported cases (excluding quarantine), the metropolitan area accounted for 66 cases: 32 in Gyeonggi, 31 in Seoul, and 3 in Incheon. Confirmed cases were reported in 13 cities and provinces nationwide.

The death toll increased by 3, bringing the total to 358. The number of patients whose condition worsened to critical or severe stages after being confirmed with COVID-19 decreased by 7, totaling 157.

Meanwhile, the decision on whether to extend the 2.5-level social distancing measures in the metropolitan area will be made today. The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters plans to hold a meeting at 3 p.m. chaired by Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun to finalize the operation plan related to the metropolitan area's 2.5-level measures. The results will be announced at a regular briefing around 4:30 p.m.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters has been reviewing various options regarding the adjustment of distancing levels, including termination, re-extension, and the introduction of a third option. It is known that the final plan had not been decided as of the previous day.

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