New Cases 668 'Highest in 89 Days'... On the Brink of 4th Major Wave

First 600s After Lunar New Year Holidays in Mid-February

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Korea has surged to 668. This is the highest figure in 89 days since January 8, when the third wave, which had seen daily cases in the thousands, began to stabilize at 674 cases. Experts say this surpasses the threshold of the much-feared "fourth wave in April." ▶Related article on page 2

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of midnight on the 7th, 668 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed, bringing the total to 106,898. The 600-level daily case count is the highest since February 18 (621 cases), 48 days after the Lunar New Year holiday. Regarding the infection routes, 653 cases were locally transmitted and 15 were imported. The key indicator for adjusting social distancing levels, the average daily number of locally transmitted cases over the past week, stands at 523.7, exceeding even the upper limit of level 2.5 (nationwide 400?500 cases or more).

Professor Kim Woo-joo of the Infectious Diseases Department at Korea University Guro Hospital said, "We can already consider that we have entered the fourth wave." He added, "If the government does not promptly strengthen quarantine measures and respond according to the previously established principles, the situation of the third wave will be repeated."

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