Fourth Wave Becomes Reality... 627 New COVID-19 Cases, Over 600 for Three Consecutive Days (Comprehensive)

593 Local Cases - 34 Overseas Cases... Cumulative Total 122,634, Deaths Up by 3 to 1,831
Seoul 195 - Gyeonggi 190 - Ulsan 52 - Gyeongnam 43 - Busan 29 - Chungnam 17, etc.
Daily Average Local Cases Below 600 for the First Time in 20 Days... 35,096 Tests Conducted Yesterday, Positivity Rate 1.79%

On the 30th, citizens are waiting to be tested at the temporary COVID-19 screening center set up at Seoul Station Plaza in Jung-gu. The government extended the current social distancing levels?Level 2 in the metropolitan area and Level 1.5 in non-metropolitan areas?for three more weeks until the 23rd of next month. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Onyu Lim] As the spread of COVID-19 continues in various places, the number of new confirmed cases on the 1st was recorded in the low 600s. Although slightly lower than the previous day, it remained in the 600s for three consecutive days.

With May being the month of family celebrations, where various gatherings and events may increase, the government has decided to extend the current 'social distancing' measures (Level 2 in the metropolitan area, Level 1.5 in non-metropolitan areas) and the nationwide ban on private gatherings of five or more people for three more weeks until the 23rd.

◆ Among 593 locally transmitted cases, 387 in the metropolitan area, 206 in non-metropolitan areas... Non-metropolitan areas account for 34.7%

The Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced that as of midnight, 627 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed, bringing the total to 122,634. This is 34 fewer than the previous day (661 cases).

Looking at recent patient occurrence patterns, nationwide cluster infections are rapidly occurring, making the '4th wave' gradually becoming a reality.

The number of new confirmed cases over the past week from the 25th of last month to today were 644 → 499 → 512 → 769 → 679 → 661 → 627 per day. During this period, there was one day each in the 400s and 500s, four days in the 600s, and one day in the 700s.

With an average of about 627.3 cases per day over the week, the key indicator for adjusting social distancing levels, the daily average of locally transmitted cases, was 597.1, which falls within the Level 2.5 range (nationwide 400?500 or more cases).

This figure dropping below 600 is the first time in 20 days since the 11th of last month (590.7 cases).

Regarding the infection routes of new confirmed cases on this day, 593 were locally transmitted and 34 were imported cases. Although the number of locally transmitted cases decreased from the previous day (642 cases), it still approached the 600s.

By region, the metropolitan area had 387 cases (65.3%), including Seoul 187, Gyeonggi 187, and Incheon 13.

Non-metropolitan areas had a total of 206 cases (34.7%), including Ulsan 52, Gyeongnam 41, Busan 28, Chungnam 16, Daegu and Daejeon 12 each, Gyeongbuk 11, Jeonbuk 9, Jeju 7, Gwangju, Sejong, Gangwon, and Chungbuk 4 each, and Jeonnam 2.

Major cluster outbreak cases show that infection transmission chains are continuing nationwide.

In the metropolitan area, new infections were confirmed at workplaces in Dongjak-gu, Seoul (cumulative 11 cases), restaurants in Gwanak-gu (18 cases), and aluminum manufacturing in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi (11 cases). Confirmed cases related to door-to-door sales, PC rooms, restaurants, and universities also continued.

In non-metropolitan areas, the cumulative confirmed cases related to a nightlife establishment in Nam-gu, Ulsan increased to 15, and additional cases were reported in Gyeongnam at nightlife pubs and restaurants in Sacheon, companies in Hadong, and cram schools in Gimhae.

◆ Imported cases increased by 15 to a total of 34... Confirmed cases reported in all 17 provinces nationwide

Imported confirmed cases numbered 34, an increase of 15 from the previous day (19 cases).

Among them, 15 were identified during quarantine at airports or ports. The remaining 19 tested positive while in self-quarantine at their residences or temporary living facilities in Seoul (8), Gyeonggi (3), Gyeongnam (2), Busan, Daejeon, Chungbuk, Chungnam, Jeonbuk, and Gyeongbuk (1 each).

They are estimated to have come from 14 countries, with 13 being Korean nationals and 21 foreigners. By country, there were 6 from Pakistan, 5 from the Philippines, 4 each from India and the United States, 3 from Poland, 2 each from Hungary, Egypt, and Papua New Guinea, and 1 each from Kazakhstan, Oman, Uzbekistan, Japan, Ukraine, and Equatorial Guinea.

Combining locally transmitted and imported cases (excluding quarantine), the total was 398, including Seoul 195, Gyeonggi 190, and Incheon 13. Confirmed cases were reported across all 17 provinces nationwide.

The number of deaths increased by 3 from the previous day, totaling 1,831. The domestic average fatality rate is 1.49%. The number of critically ill patients was 174, an increase of 10 from the previous day (164).

The number of recovered patients released from isolation increased by 915 to a total of 112,337, while the number of patients under isolation treatment decreased by 291 to a total of 8,466.

As of now, the total number of COVID-19 diagnostic tests conducted domestically is 8,883,388, of which 8,675,542 tested negative, and 85,212 are awaiting results.

The number of tests conducted through screening clinics on the previous day was 35,096, which is 7,417 fewer than the 42,513 tests conducted the day before.

The positivity rate calculated by confirmed cases relative to the number of tests was 1.79% (627 cases out of 35,096 tests), up from 1.55% (661 cases out of 42,513 tests) the previous day. The cumulative positivity rate as of midnight was 1.38% (122,634 cases out of 8,883,388 tests).

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