COVID-19 Tests Halved in Two Weeks... Will New Cases Drop to Double Digits?

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] In the past two weeks, the number of COVID-19 tests conducted in South Korea has halved. As the daily number of tests steadily decreases, there is growing anticipation that the number of new confirmed cases will soon enter double digits, the target set by health authorities.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 15th, the number of COVID-19 tests has continuously declined since recording 58,021 tests on the 30th of last month, when enhanced social distancing level 2 (level 2.5) was implemented in the metropolitan area, dropping to around 20,000 tests as of today.

Before the first confirmed case emerged at Sarang Jeil Church, the epicenter of the August outbreak, the nationwide screening clinics conducted 48,465 diagnostic tests in one week. However, from August 13 to 19, the number surged to 68,412 tests, and from August 20 to 26, it further increased to 134,442 tests, nearly tripling in two weeks.

As the number of new confirmed cases fluctuates in accordance with the increase or decrease in testing, there is potential for the domestic spread to enter a stabilization phase. The number of new confirmed cases recorded today was the lowest since 103 cases on the 14th of last month, raising expectations for entering double digits.

Daily new confirmed cases had once soared to the mid-400s after the August outbreak intensified in mid-last month but gradually decreased to the 300s, 200s, and 100s. As of today, the number has remained in the 100s for 13 consecutive days. Although there have been some fluctuations, such as recording the low 100s for three consecutive days recently, the overall trend is downward.

This trend is also evident in the metropolitan area, where new cases were concentrated. Seoul recorded numbers in the 30s for the second consecutive day today, marking the lowest level since 26 cases on the 12th of last month. Incheon has consistently reported single-digit cases since the 6th, and Gyeonggi Province has maintained numbers in the 30s for four consecutive days.

Locally transmitted cases are also on the decline. Since the 11th, locally transmitted cases have steadily decreased from 161 to 118, 99, 98, and 91, with the number falling below 100 for the past three days.

However, health authorities remain vigilant as about 40% of confirmed cases are among the elderly. Kang Do-tae, the first chief coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, stated today, "Although the daily number of confirmed cases is gradually decreasing, the proportion of elderly people aged 60 and above among recent confirmed cases has consistently been around 40%, and the majority of critically ill patients are also aged 60 and above. The higher the age of confirmed cases, the greater the likelihood of progressing to severe illness during treatment, which is a concerning situation."

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