[Summary] Five Consecutive Days Over 400 Cases... COVID-19 Spread Continues Through the Weekend

On the 21st, as the spread of COVID-19 continues, the temporary screening clinic set up at Guro Station Plaza in Seoul is crowded with citizens and foreigners seeking specimen tests. / Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Joselgina] The number of new COVID-19 cases recorded 456 on the 21st, marking the fifth consecutive day in the mid-400s. Nationwide, large and small cluster infections have continued in multi-use facilities such as bathhouses and workplaces employing foreign workers, sustaining the spread even during the weekend when testing numbers decreased. The number of domestic vaccine recipients increased by 939, reaching a total of 676,587.

◆456 New Confirmed Cases Added

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of midnight on this day, 456 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed, bringing the cumulative total to 98,665. This is an increase of 4 cases compared to the previous day (452 cases). The number of new COVID-19 cases has remained in the 400s for five consecutive days since the 17th (469 cases).

Looking at the infection routes of the new confirmed cases, 437 were locally transmitted and 19 were imported from overseas. Breaking down the local cases, Seoul reported 124, Gyeonggi 155, and Incheon 20, totaling 299 cases in the metropolitan area, accounting for 68.4% of all local cases. Non-metropolitan areas reported a total of 138 cases: Gyeongnam 54, Busan 18, Gangwon 13, Daegu 12, Chungbuk and Jeonbuk 10 each, Ulsan 7, Chungnam and Gyeongbuk 5 each, Gwangju 2, and Daejeon and Jeju 1 each.

The number of imported cases was 19, 7 more than the previous day (12). Among these, 9 cases were identified during quarantine inspections at airports or ports.

The number of COVID-19 cases surged to the 600s immediately after the Lunar New Year holiday, then dropped to the 300-400 range, but has recently shown an increasing trend again. From the 15th to this day, the daily new cases over the past week were 382 → 363 → 469 → 445 → 463 → 452 → 456. Despite government measures such as social distancing and bans on private gatherings of five or more people, the spread has not easily subsided. The key indicator for adjusting distancing levels, the daily average of locally transmitted cases, is about 416, still within the Level 2.5 range (nationwide 400-500 or more).

Recent infection patterns show large and small cluster outbreaks in small gatherings, workplaces, hospitals, and bathhouses. The number of confirmed cases related to a pediatric clinic in Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi Province has increased to about 10. At least 204 cases have been confirmed related to a bathhouse in Jinju-si. Cases with unidentified infection routes are also occurring consecutively.

The number of COVID-19 deaths increased by 3 from the previous day, totaling 1,696 (fatality rate 1.72%). The number of critically ill patients is 104, 2 more than the previous day. The number of newly released from isolation is 379. As of this day, a total of 90,328 (91.55%) have been released from isolation, and 6,641 are currently in isolation.

The number of suspected cases tested the previous day was 23,764, and the number of tests conducted at temporary screening clinics in the metropolitan area was 22,658 (with 57 confirmed cases). As of midnight on this day, the cumulative positivity rate is 1.35% (98,665 out of 7,332,714 tested).

◆939 More Vaccinations... 84.6% of Priority Group Vaccinated

According to the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team, as of midnight on this day, an additional 939 people received vaccinations. Since the start of COVID-19 vaccinations in Korea, a total of 676,587 people have completed the first dose. The vaccination rate is 84.6%. Among vaccine recipients, 619,100 received the AstraZeneca vaccine, and 57,487 received the Pfizer vaccine.

From the previous day, second doses have begun for those who received the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine. The number of second doses administered is 313.

The Promotion Team reported that the number of suspected adverse reactions reported after COVID-19 vaccination increased by 25 cases to a total of 9,782. Specifically, most cases (including the 25 new cases) involved common post-vaccination symptoms such as muscle pain, headache, fever, chills, and nausea.

Additionally, there have been 89 suspected anaphylaxis cases, 11 suspected severe cases such as seizures, and 16 death reports under investigation. No new death cases reported after vaccination were added on this day.

The Promotion Team compiles and announces vaccination and adverse reaction status daily as of midnight.

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