COVID-19 58 New Cases Yesterday... Government to Announce Social Distancing Adjustment This Afternoon (Comprehensive)

Maintaining Double Digits for Four Consecutive Days... 46 Local Cases
'Social Distancing' Readjusted... Effective from the 12th

[Asia Economy Reporter Minji Lee] As sporadic infections of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue in various places including the metropolitan area, the daily number of new confirmed cases on the 11th was in the 50s. This marks four consecutive days of maintaining double digits following the 8th to 10th. Amid this, the quarantine authorities plan to announce adjustments to social distancing measures in the afternoon after the 'Chuseok Special Quarantine.'

46 Local Cases · 12 Imported Cases... Seoul 23, Gyeonggi 21, etc.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight, 58 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed, bringing the total to 24,606. Compared to the previous day (72 cases), the number of new cases decreased by 14, maintaining below 100 for four consecutive days. Among the 58 new cases, 46 were local transmissions and 12 were imported.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The number of locally transmitted cases, presumed to be infected within the community, dropped by 15 from the previous day (61 cases), falling below 50 again. By region, the metropolitan area accounted for 38 cases: Seoul 19, Gyeonggi 18, and Incheon 1. Outside the metropolitan area, there were 3 cases in Busan, 2 each in Daejeon and Gangwon, and 1 in Chungnam.

Major infection cases include several large and small outbreaks in the metropolitan area and Busan. Regarding the 'Seunggwang Building' in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, a total of 8 people had tested positive by noon the previous day. In Busan's Busanjin-gu, the cumulative confirmed cases related to an acquaintance gathering and a medical institution rose to 14. In Busan, 13 people tested positive in connection with a 'visiting injection' case, including a family in Sasang-gu.

The transmission pattern linked to medical institutions is also concerning. Related to 'Dana Hospital' in Dobong-gu, Seoul, a total of 58 patients and staff tested positive. In Uijeongbu-si, Gyeonggi, the 'Master Plus Hospital' cluster saw 12 new cases in one day, bringing the total to 49 confirmed cases.

There were 12 imported cases, similar to the previous day's 11. Among them, 3 were identified during quarantine inspections at airports or ports. The remaining 9 tested positive while in self-isolation at their residences or temporary living facilities in Seoul (4), Gyeonggi (3), Daegu, and Ulsan (1 each). Combining local and imported cases (excluding quarantine), the metropolitan area accounted for 45 cases: Seoul 23, Gyeonggi 21, and Incheon 1. New cases were reported in 9 cities and provinces nationwide.

The cumulative death toll increased by 2 from the previous day to 432. The domestic average fatality rate stands at 1.76%. The number of patients whose condition worsened to severe or critical stages after being confirmed with COVID-19 remained at 89, unchanged from the previous day.

The number of COVID-19 diagnostic tests conducted in one day was 5,799, 1,348 more than the previous day (4,451). The positivity rate calculated from the tests conducted the previous day was 1.0% (58 out of 5,799), significantly lower than the previous day's 1.62% (72 out of 4,451). As of midnight, the cumulative positivity rate was 1.02% (24,0606 out of 2,410,483 tests).

Announcement of 'Social Distancing Adjustment Plan'... Chuseok and Hangeul Day Holidays as Variables

At 4:30 p.m. today, the quarantine authorities will announce the new 'social distancing' level and guidelines to be applied from the 12th, based on recent COVID-19 case trends and cluster infection situations during a regular briefing.

Looking at the daily new confirmed cases over the past two weeks from the 28th of last month to today: 50 → 38 → 113 → 77 → 63 → 75 → 64 → 73 → 75 → 114 → 69 → 54 → 72 → 58. Except for two days, the first day of the Chuseok holiday on the 30th of last month (113 cases) and the 7th of this month (114 cases), the numbers have remained in double digits. Although the spread of COVID-19 has somewhat slowed, the impact of cluster infections linked to family and acquaintance gatherings during the Chuseok holiday (September 30 to October 4) remains, and with the Hangeul Day holiday (October 9 to 11) approaching, the number of confirmed cases could increase at any time.

During the current 'Chuseok Special Quarantine Period' (September 28 to October 11), key measures of level 2 social distancing are in effect. Gatherings and assemblies of more than 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors are prohibited, and high-risk facilities in the metropolitan area remain closed. The new quarantine measures to be applied are expected to be decided in a way that enhances effectiveness by carefully considering the characteristics of each region, industry, and facility rather than applying uniform level adjustments.

At the regular briefing yesterday, Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said, "The adjustment of social distancing will be finalized at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting chaired by the Prime Minister tomorrow," adding, "The plan to be announced will reduce fatigue caused by prolonged distancing while being sustainable and more effective."

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