COVID-19 Cases in 400s for Four Consecutive Days... Ongoing Concerns Over Nationwide Spread (Comprehensive)

440 Local Cases - 12 Overseas... Total 98,209
Ongoing Sporadic Infections at Gatherings, Restaurants, and Entertainment Venues

Citizens and foreigners are waiting to be tested at a temporary screening clinic set up in the plaza of Guro Station, Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] As the spread of COVID-19 shows no signs of easing, the number of new confirmed cases has remained in the 400s for three consecutive days. Especially in the Seoul metropolitan area, where around 300 cases are reported daily, infections linked to various gatherings, workplaces, and entertainment facilities in non-metropolitan areas are also continuing, raising nationwide concerns about further spread.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight, 452 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed, bringing the total to 98,209. This is 11 fewer than the previous day (463 cases), but it marks the fourth consecutive day with cases in the 400s since the 17th (469 cases).

The impact of the 'third wave' that began in mid-November last year has continued for five months. The number of new cases, which showed a gradual decline earlier this year, surged to the 600s immediately after the Lunar New Year holiday (February 11?14), then dropped to the 300?400 range, but has recently been rising again due to sporadic infections. Over the past week from the 14th to today, the daily new cases were 459 → 382 → 363 → 469 → 445 → 463 → 452. During this period, the number of cases was in the 300s twice and in the 400s five times.

Regarding the infection routes of the new cases today, 440 were locally transmitted and 12 were imported. By region, the Seoul metropolitan area reported 317 cases: Seoul 119, Gyeonggi 187, and Incheon 11. The number of cases in the metropolitan area was similar to the previous day (320 cases), accounting for 72.0% of all local transmissions. Non-metropolitan areas reported a total of 123 cases: Gyeongnam 31, Gangwon 17, Daegu 16, Jeonbuk 14, Gyeongbuk 11, Busan 9, Daejeon and Chungbuk 8 each, Chungnam 5, Ulsan 3, and Jeju 1.

Recent trends show that confirmed cases are continuing mainly in small gatherings, workplaces, entertainment facilities, and restaurants. Over 20 cases were confirmed related to a pub and restaurant in Jung-gu, Seoul; new infections were also reported at a workplace in Yongsan-gu and a church in Yangcheon-gu (11 cases), a kindergarten in Yangju-si, Gyeonggi (10 cases), and a social gathering among acquaintances in Dangjin-si, Chungnam (9 cases). The scale of infections in existing cluster outbreaks is also growing daily, with the cumulative number of confirmed cases related to entertainment facilities in Geoje-si, Gyeongnam rising to 63.

There were 12 imported cases, 10 fewer than the previous day (22 cases). Among these, 4 were detected during quarantine inspections at airports or ports. The remaining 8 tested positive while in self-quarantine at their residences or temporary living facilities in Gyeonggi and Jeonbuk (2 each), and Seoul, Incheon, Gwangju, and Chungnam (1 each). Combining local transmissions and imported cases (excluding quarantine), the Seoul metropolitan area reported 321 cases: Seoul 120, Gyeonggi 189, and Incheon 12. Nationwide, new cases were reported in 15 cities and provinces, excluding Sejong and Jeonnam.

The death toll increased by 3 from the previous day, reaching a total of 1,693. The domestic average fatality rate stands at 1.72%. The number of critically ill patients is 102, one more than the previous day.

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