COVID-19 New Cases 735... Over 700 for Two Consecutive Days

Published 22 Apr.2021 09:51(KST)

On the 19th, citizens are waiting to be tested at the COVID-19 screening clinic set up at Jungnang-gu Public Health Center in Seoul. On the same day, the Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that 137 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Seoul on the 18th. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] The number of new COVID-19 cases in South Korea has recorded over 700 for two consecutive days. This is the first time in about two and a half months since January 6-7 that the daily new cases have exceeded 700 for two consecutive days.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced on the 22nd at midnight that the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases increased by 735 from the previous day to 116,661. Following 731 cases the day before, the number surpassed 700 for two consecutive days. The last time new cases exceeded 700 for two consecutive days was on January 6-7, when 838 and 869 cases were confirmed respectively.

The infection routes of the new confirmed cases were 715 local transmissions and 20 imported cases.

About 60% of the locally transmitted cases occurred in the Seoul metropolitan area. There were 229 cases (32.0%) in Seoul, 217 cases (30.3%) in Gyeonggi, and 11 cases (1.5%) in Incheon, totaling 457 cases in the metropolitan area, accounting for 63.9% of all confirmed cases.

Other regions reported new cases as follows: 58 in Gyeongnam, 35 in Busan, 32 in Ulsan, 24 in Daegu, 23 in Gangwon, 23 in Gyeongbuk, 19 in Chungbuk, 13 in Daejeon, 11 in Incheon, 9 in Gwangju, 7 in Jeonnam, 6 in Jeonbuk, 4 in Chungnam, 4 in Jeju, and 1 in Sejong.

The weekly average of daily local cases, a key indicator for adjusting social distancing levels, remained in the low 600s for the 11th consecutive day at 625 cases.

There were 20 imported cases. Among them, 5 were detected during quarantine, and 15 were confirmed locally. Fourteen were Korean nationals and six were foreigners.

The number of patients who have recovered and been released from isolation increased by 582 to 106,459. Among the confirmed patients receiving hospital treatment, the number of critically ill patients increased by 9 to 125. The death toll rose by 2 to 1,808.

The total number of tests conducted the previous day was 75,282. At temporary screening clinics set up in the metropolitan area, 35,371 tests were conducted, confirming 133 new cases.

On the 16th, seniors aged 75 and older received the Pfizer vaccine at the vaccination center set up at Yongsan Art Hall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

Meanwhile, as of midnight on the same day, 131,228 people received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, bringing the total number of first-dose recipients to 1,903,767. Among them, 1,141,154 received the AstraZeneca vaccine, and 762,613 received the Pfizer vaccine.

The number of people who completed the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine increased by 25 from the previous day to 60,622. The second dose of Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19 treatment hospital workers was completed as of the 10th, and the elderly aged 75 and over, who began vaccination on the 1st, have not yet reached the second dose period, so only a small number of vaccinations are being conducted for some no-shows and reserve candidates.

The number of suspected adverse reaction reports increased by 199 to a total of 12,732. Among them, one additional death case was reported among Pfizer vaccine recipients. This brings the total number of deaths after Pfizer vaccination to 15, and the total deaths after all COVID-19 vaccinations to 52.

Additionally, three cases of anaphylaxis-like reactions were reported, and three more cases of severe suspected symptoms such as convulsions requiring intensive care unit admission were reported.