COVID-19 New Cases 641... Over 600 for Two Consecutive Days (Update)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Buaeri] The number of new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in South Korea slightly decreased on the 9th compared to the previous day, maintaining the 600s for two consecutive days.

The number has remained below 1,000 for five consecutive days. Although the spread has somewhat eased, cluster infections in nursing hospitals and churches persist, and cases of the UK variant virus continue to emerge, so the scale of confirmed cases could increase again, prompting health authorities to closely monitor the situation.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight on this day, there were 641 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 67,999.

This is 33 fewer than the previous day (674 cases). The figure of 641 is the lowest recorded in 32 days since December 8 (589 cases).

The spread of the third wave, which began in earnest in mid-November last year, appears to have somewhat subsided recently.

Since the new year, the daily new confirmed cases have been 1,027 → 820 → 657 → 1,020 → 714 → 838 → 869 → 674 → 641, staying below 1,000 except for two days.

In particular, looking at the situation over the past week, new confirmed cases have averaged 773.3 per day, with the key indicator for adjusting social distancing levels, locally transmitted cases, dropping to an average of 738.1 per day. This is nearly 200 fewer than the previous week (December 27, 2020 ? January 2, 2021), which recorded 930.4 cases.

Among the 641 new confirmed cases on this day, 596 were locally transmitted and 45 were imported.

The number of locally transmitted cases falling into the 500s is the first time since December 8 (562 cases).

By region, the Seoul metropolitan area recorded 421 cases: Gyeonggi 195, Seoul 180, Incheon 46.

Non-metropolitan areas reported 175 cases: Chungbuk 30, Chungnam 26, Gyeongnam 23, Gyeongbuk 20, Busan 17, Jeonbuk 13, Daegu 12, Ulsan 8, Gwangju 6, and Daejeon, Gangwon, Jeonnam, Jeju each with 5 cases.

Major infection cases include outbreaks in correctional facilities, shopping centers, and nursing homes.

At the Seoul Eastern Detention Center, as of midnight the previous day, a total of 1,177 inmates, staff, family members, and acquaintances tested positive.

At a shopping center in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, and a nursing home in Bupyeong-gu (case number 2), a total of 22 people have been confirmed positive, and epidemiological investigations are underway. The cumulative confirmed cases related to Misodeul Nursing Hospital and nursing homes in Guro-gu, Seoul, have increased to 225.

The number of imported cases was 45, an increase of 4 from the previous day (41 cases).

This is the highest number in 18 days since December 22 (45 cases), with recent imported cases ranging between 30 and 40.

The death toll increased by 19 from the previous day, reaching a total of 1,100. The domestic average fatality rate is 1.62%.

The number of critically ill patients increased by 5 from the previous day to 409.

The number of tests conducted the previous day was 59,612, 584 fewer than the 60,196 tests conducted the day before.

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