303 New COVID-19 Cases Nationwide by 6 PM... 120 in Seoul

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seon-ae] On the 12th, Lunar New Year’s Day, new COVID-19 cases emerged across the country, indicating signs of a third wave.

According to health authorities and local governments including Seoul, from midnight to 6 p.m. on the same day, a total of 303 new confirmed COVID-19 cases were identified through testing. This is 20 fewer than the 323 cases recorded during the same time frame the previous day.

The decrease in the number of confirmed cases in the interim counts between the previous day and the current day compared to the 393 cases on the 10th appears to reflect the reduced number of tests conducted during the Lunar New Year holiday.

Looking at the regions where confirmed cases were reported, 232 cases (76.6%) were from the metropolitan area, and 71 cases (23.4%) were from non-metropolitan areas. By city and province, there were 120 cases in Seoul, 82 in Gyeonggi, 30 in Incheon, 26 in Busan, 11 in Chungnam, 8 in Daegu, 5 in Gyeongbuk, 4 each in Daejeon, Jeonbuk, and Jeju, 3 each in Gyeongnam and Chungbuk, 2 in Gwangju, and 1 in Gangwon.

Among the 17 cities and provinces nationwide, no confirmed cases have yet been reported in Ulsan, Sejong, and Jeonnam. Since there is still time until midnight when the count closes, the number of new confirmed cases announced based on midnight on the 12th is expected to increase further, likely reaching the high 300s or, at most, the low 400s.

The previous day saw an increase of 80 cases by midnight, closing at a final count of 403. The 'third wave,' which began in earnest in mid-November last year, had entered a calming phase in the new year but has recently shown signs of instability as confirmed cases have risen again. New cases, which had dropped to the high 200s, surged to the low 500s before settling back into the 400s.

From the 6th to the 12th, the number of new confirmed cases over the past week recorded daily counts of 393 → 371 → 288 → 303 → 444 → 504 → 403, averaging 386 cases per day. Among these, the key indicator for adjusting the 'social distancing' level, the number of locally transmitted cases, averaged 356 per day, maintaining the level 2 range (nationwide over 300 cases), but this is 5 cases higher than the 351 cases recorded the previous day.

Regarding major infection cases, 22 more confirmed cases related to the Yeongsaenggyo Seungri Altar facility and Ojeong Ability Tutoring Academy in Bucheon, Gyeonggi, were added, bringing the cumulative total to 123. Additionally, 18 more confirmed cases related to the Taepyeongyang Martial Arts Center and Donggyeong Restaurant in Juyeop-dong, Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi, were added, increasing the cumulative total to 42. The number of confirmed cases related to a private gathering in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, totaled 55. Furthermore, additional confirmed cases were reported at a sauna in Gangdong-gu, Seoul (cumulative 13), the 4th case at a call center in Jung-gu, Seoul (15 cases), and a nursing facility in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul (cumulative 14 cases).

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