COVID-19 Cases Reach 300s in One Week... Elementary and Kindergarten Teachers Vaccinated in Q2 (Update)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] The number of new domestic COVID-19 cases has reached the 300s for the first time in a week.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced on the 15th at midnight that 382 new domestic COVID-19 cases were confirmed, bringing the total to 96,017.

Of these, 370 were domestic transmissions and 12 were imported cases.

By region, Seoul reported 112 cases, Gyeonggi 161, and Incheon 18, showing a high proportion in the metropolitan area. In non-metropolitan areas, Gyeongnam had 31 cases, Gangwon 10, Chungbuk 9, Chungnam 5, Busan, Daegu, and Jeonbuk 4 each, Gyeongbuk and Jeju 3 each, Daejeon and Sejong 2 each, and Gwangju and Ulsan 1 each. No cases were reported in Jeonnam.

Among the 12 imported cases, 7 were identified during quarantine, and the remaining 5 were confirmed in the local community. Seven were Korean nationals and five were foreigners.

There are 99 critically ill patients, and the death toll increased by 6 the previous day, totaling 1,675 deaths. The number of newly released from isolation was 346, bringing the total to 87,754.

The number of suspected cases tested was 18,539, and 15,162 tests were conducted at temporary screening clinics set up in the metropolitan area, resulting in 89 confirmed cases.

588,958 people completed the first dose... 28 suspected adverse reaction reports

On the 9th, contact visits to nursing hospitals and nursing facilities, which had been restricted due to the risk of COVID-19 infection, became possible. At Gaeunmyeongwon in Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi Province, Lee Yongbeom is visiting his mother, Son Yongchang. Contact visits are allowed only for guardians of patients or residents who are terminally ill, severely ill, or in similar conditions, provided they have tested negative for COVID-19 within 24 hours prior to the visit. Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@

The COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team announced that as of midnight, 1,074 people received the COVID-19 vaccine, bringing the total number of people who completed the first dose to 588,958. Of these, 562,816 received the AstraZeneca vaccine, and 26,142 received the Pfizer vaccine.

There were 28 additional reports of suspected adverse reactions, bringing the total to 8,347 cases. Among the new reports, 26 cases involved common post-vaccination symptoms such as muscle pain, headache, fever, chills, and nausea, while 2 cases were suspected anaphylaxis.

Kwon Deok-cheol, the first deputy head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Minister of Health and Welfare), emphasized in his opening remarks at the Central Disaster Management Headquarters meeting held at the Government Sejong Complex that "Today marks the first day of the 'Special Measures Period for the Metropolitan Area' and the 'Special Week for Compliance with Non-Metropolitan Quarantine Rules' to eliminate the remaining embers of the third wave and prevent the fourth wave in advance." He urged everyone to strictly follow quarantine rules such as wearing masks, washing hands, and social distancing in every moment of daily life.

Deputy Head Kwon also partially disclosed the second quarter COVID-19 vaccination implementation plan to be announced later that afternoon. He said, "In the second quarter, in addition to residents and workers of nursing hospitals and facilities currently being vaccinated, vaccinations will also be conducted for high-risk groups such as residents and workers of elderly and disabled facilities, where cluster infections and severe progression risks are high."

Deputy Head Kwon stated, "Vaccinations will begin for seniors aged 65 and older, and for those aged 75 and older, a safe and thorough support system will be established before and after vaccination in cooperation with local governments."

He added, "Vaccinations to protect schools and childcare spaces from COVID-19 will also begin, starting with special education and disabled education, followed by kindergartens, daycare centers, and teachers of lower grades (1st and 2nd grade) in elementary schools in stages."

He explained, "Procedures for vaccination have also been established for civil servants traveling abroad for official business and essential economic activities." He added, "The government is fully prepared to ensure that a total of 12 million people complete their first dose by the first half of the year."

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