3 New Confirmed Cases 657... 20 More Deaths (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] As the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) continues domestically, the number of new confirmed cases on the 3rd remained in the mid-600s. Following the 800s the previous day, the number stayed below 1,000 for two consecutive days. However, this is due to a significant decrease in the number of diagnostic tests during the New Year holiday (January 1 to January 3) compared to the previous weekdays, making it premature to conclude that the spread has slowed.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced that as of midnight on this day, 657 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed, bringing the total to 63,244. This is 167 fewer than the previous day (824 cases).

Since the 'third wave' of COVID-19 began in mid-November last year, the spread has continued steadily.

From the 28th of last month to this day, the daily new confirmed cases over the past week were 807 → 1045 → 1050 → 967 → 1029 → 824 → 657, fluctuating around 1,000 before dropping to the 800s during the holiday period and then to the 600s.

The number of new confirmed cases exceeding 100 has continued for 57 consecutive days since November 8 last year.

The average daily new confirmed cases over the recent week (December 28, 2020 to January 3, 2021) was approximately 911, of which the key indicator for adjusting social distancing levels, the locally transmitted cases, averaged 888 per day. The daily average of locally transmitted cases once exceeded 1,000 but has since decreased to the 800s.

Regarding the infection routes of new confirmed cases on this day, 641 were locally transmitted and 16 were imported from overseas.

The number of locally transmitted cases is 147 fewer than the previous day (788). Looking at the regions where cases were confirmed, the Seoul metropolitan area accounted for 444 cases, with 195 in Seoul, 201 in Gyeonggi, and 48 in Incheon.

Regarding major cluster infection cases, related to the large-scale cluster at Dongbu Detention Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul, a total of 958 cases were confirmed as of midnight the previous day. The fifth full-scale investigation is currently underway targeting about 1,000 detainees.

The government, considering the holiday effect but also recognizing that the COVID-19 spread is being suppressed due to 'social distancing' (Level 2.5 in the metropolitan area, Level 2 in non-metropolitan areas) and the 'year-end and New Year special quarantine measures,' extended these two measures, which were scheduled to end on this day, for two more weeks until the 17th. Additionally, the ban on private gatherings of five or more people has been expanded nationwide beyond the metropolitan area.

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