606 New COVID-19 Cases... Numbers Remain High Over the Weekend (Update)

Citizens are getting tested at the temporary COVID-19 screening clinic set up in Jung-gu, Seoul Station Plaza. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced on the 2nd at midnight that 606 new COVID-19 confirmed cases were identified. Among them, 585 cases were domestic transmissions, and 21 were imported cases. Typically, the number of tests conducted on weekends decreases, leading to a reduction in confirmed cases, but since the 29th of last month, the daily cases have remained above 600 for four consecutive days without significant decline. The proportion of cases outside the metropolitan area is gradually increasing, showing signs of nationwide spread.

According to the Disease Control Headquarters, the number of new cases on this day decreased by 21 compared to the previous day. Although the count has slightly decreased since it reached the 700s on the 28th of last month, the weekly average is about 622 cases per day, with 595 cases based on domestic transmissions. Under the current social distancing measures, the level remains at 2.5.

For domestic transmissions by region, Seoul reported the highest with 177 cases, followed by Gyeonggi with 140 cases, and Incheon with 17 cases. In non-metropolitan areas, there were 61 cases in Gyeongnam, 52 in Ulsan, 31 in Busan, 30 in Gyeongbuk, 16 in Chungnam, 15 in Gwangju, 12 in Jeonbuk, 10 each in Daegu and Chungbuk, 8 in Daejeon, 4 in Gangwon, and 1 each in Sejong and Jeonnam. The 21 imported cases decreased by 13 from the previous day. Among them, 6 were detected during airport or port quarantine processes. The remaining 15 tested positive while in self-quarantine at their residences or temporary living facilities in Seoul and Gyeonggi (5 each), Busan (2), and Daejeon, Chungbuk, and Jeju (1 each).

As of this day, 528 confirmed patients have been released from isolation, and currently, 8,542 patients remain in isolation receiving treatment. The number of critically ill patients decreased by 4 to 170, while deaths increased by 2, bringing the total death toll to 1,833.

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