COVID-19 New Cases '393', 300s for Two Consecutive Days

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] Amid the ongoing third wave of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in South Korea, the number of new confirmed cases on the 6th was recorded in the high 300s.

Although slightly higher than the previous day, the number remained in the 300s for the second consecutive day.

The government has been suppressing the occurrence of cases by implementing 'social distancing' measures for nearly two months (Level 2.5 in the metropolitan area, Level 2 in non-metropolitan areas) along with a ban on private gatherings of five or more people. However, daily infections linked to restaurants, workplaces, hospitals, and sports facilities continue.

In particular, the government remains vigilant amid concerns that the Lunar New Year holiday (February 11?14), which is expected to involve large-scale population movement, could trigger a resurgence.

366 Local Cases... 274 in Metropolitan Area, 92 in Non-Metropolitan Areas

The Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced that as of midnight, 393 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed domestically, bringing the total to 80,524.

This is 23 more than the previous day (370 cases).

The third wave, which began in earnest in mid-November last year, showed a gradual decline this year, dropping to the low 300s, then briefly rose to the 500s due to cluster infections including the IM Mission Church, but now fluctuates between 300 and 400 cases.

The daily new confirmed cases over the past week were 354 → 305 → 336 → 467 → 451 → 370 → 393. During this period, there were five days in the 300s and two days in the 400s.

Regarding the infection routes of the new confirmed cases on this day, 366 were local transmissions and 27 were imported cases.

By region, the metropolitan area accounted for 274 cases: Seoul 142, Gyeonggi 108, and Incheon 24.

In non-metropolitan areas, cases were reported as follows: Daegu 18, Busan 14, Chungnam 13, Gwangju 12, Gyeongnam 10, Daejeon 8, Jeju 6, Gyeongbuk 4, Ulsan and Chungbuk 2 each, Gangwon, Jeonbuk, and Jeonnam 1 each. The total number of cases in non-metropolitan areas was 92.

Major infection cases include new cluster outbreaks in everyday places such as childcare facilities, saunas, and churches.

At a childcare-related facility in Jungnang-gu, Seoul, a total of 20 people including facility workers, users, and family members of confirmed cases tested positive, and 15 confirmed cases were reported at a sauna in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul.

Additionally, new cluster infections were confirmed at churches in Gunpo-si, Gyeonggi Province (total 13 cases), and in Kwonsun-gu, Suwon-si (15 cases).

Severe Cases Decrease by 3 to a Total of 197... Cases Reported in 16 Cities and Provinces Nationwide

Imported cases numbered 27, an increase of 8 from the previous day (19 cases).

Among them, 11 were identified during quarantine inspections at airports or ports. The remaining 16 tested positive while in self-quarantine at their residences or temporary living facilities in Gyeonggi (6), Jeonbuk and Gyeongbuk (3 each), Gyeongnam (2), and Seoul and Incheon (1 each).

The countries of origin for these imported cases are the United States (9), Indonesia (4), United Arab Emirates (3), Russia and Canada (2 each), and the Philippines, India, Hungary, Austria, Turkey, Argentina, and Rwanda (1 each). Among the confirmed cases, 10 are Korean nationals and 17 are foreigners.

Combining local transmissions and imported cases (excluding quarantine), the metropolitan area accounted for 282 cases: Seoul 143, Gyeonggi 114, and Incheon 25. Nationwide, new cases were reported in 16 cities and provinces, excluding Sejong.

The death toll increased by 5 from the previous day, reaching a total of 1,464. The domestic average fatality rate is 1.82%.

The number of severe cases decreased by 3 from the previous day to 197.

As of this day, 388 more confirmed patients were released from isolation, bringing the total to 70,505, while the number of patients currently in isolation treatment remained the same as the previous day at 8,555.

To date, a total of 5,893,353 COVID-19 diagnostic tests have been conducted domestically, of which 5,715,152 tested negative, and 97,677 are awaiting results.

The number of tests conducted at screening clinics on the previous day was 46,175, which is 2,092 more than the 44,083 tests conducted the day before.

The positivity rate calculated based on the number of tests conducted the previous day was 0.85% (393 positive cases out of 46,175 tests), slightly up from 0.84% (370 positive cases out of 44,083 tests) the day before. The cumulative positivity rate as of midnight is 1.37% (80,524 positive cases out of 5,893,353 tests).

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