Highest Since First Major Wave... 686 New Confirmed Cases, Second Largest Ever (Update)

On the 8th, when early winter cold snap arrived with a morning low temperature of minus 4 degrees Celsius in Seoul, commuters hurried along wearing thick coats at Gwanghwamun Intersection in Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The number of new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in South Korea approached 700 on the 9th. The number of new confirmed cases on that day was 686, marking the second largest scale ever and the highest record in 284 days since the peak of the "first wave" in February-March (909 cases).

The Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced that as of midnight on that day, the total number of COVID-19 confirmed cases increased by 686 from the previous day to 39,432.

Regarding the infection routes of the new confirmed cases, 662 were locally transmitted and 24 were imported cases. Among the locally transmitted cases, 8 out of 10 occurred in the Seoul metropolitan area.

Locally transmitted cases were 264 in Seoul, 214 in Gyeonggi, and 46 in Incheon, totaling 524 cases in the metropolitan area, accounting for 79% of the total. Additionally, there were 31 cases in Gyeongnam, 23 in Chungbuk, 20 in Busan, 14 in Ulsan, 12 in Jeonbuk, 10 in Daejeon, 9 in Gwangju, 4 in Gangwon, 4 in Chungnam, 3 in Daegu, 3 in Gyeongbuk, 2 in Jeonnam, 2 in Jeju, and 1 in Sejong.

Among the 24 imported confirmed cases, 9 were identified during quarantine upon entry. The remaining 15 tested positive while in self-quarantine at their residences or temporary living facilities in various regions: 6 in Seoul, 4 in Gyeonggi, 2 in Incheon, 1 in Gangwon, 1 in Chungbuk, and 1 in Gyeongbuk.

The number of patients who have been declared recovered and released from isolation increased by 527 from the previous day to 30,177. The death toll rose by 4 to 556.

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