'4th Wave' 1,378 New Confirmed Cases... Highest Record for 3 Consecutive Days (Summary)

1,320 Local Cases, 58 Overseas Cases
2 Additional Deaths
Over 1,000 Cases Reported in the Capital Region Only

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] As the fourth wave of COVID-19 intensifies, the number of new confirmed cases on the 10th reached 1,378, breaking the record for the highest number for three consecutive days.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight on that day, the number of new confirmed cases increased by 1,378, bringing the total to 166,722.

The number of new confirmed cases is 62 more than the previous day's 1,316, marking the highest figure since the first COVID-19 patient was reported in the country on January 20 last year. From the 8th, the numbers were 1,275 → 1,316 → 1,378, setting a new record for three consecutive days. Also, for the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak in the country, there have been over 1,200 confirmed cases for four consecutive days starting from the 7th.

On that day, the infection routes of new confirmed cases were 1,320 local transmissions and 58 imported cases. The number of locally transmitted cases was also 84 more than the previous day's record high. Imported cases were 22 fewer than the previous day (80), with 21 of them detected during airport or port quarantine processes. The remaining 37 tested positive while in self-quarantine at their local residences or temporary living facilities. The confirmed cases are estimated to have come from 19 countries, with 27 being Korean nationals and 31 foreigners.

The Seoul metropolitan area showed a prominent increase in cases, with the combined confirmed cases in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon exceeding 1,000 for the first time. In particular, Seoul's weekly daily average of confirmed cases was about 431, surpassing the level 4 criteria (389 or more) for two consecutive days.

The number of new confirmed cases over the past week from the 4th to that day were 743 → 711 → 746 → 1,212 → 1,275 → 1,316 → 1,378 respectively.

The death toll increased by 2 from the previous day, totaling 2,038. The average fatality rate is 1.22%. The number of critically ill patients remained the same as the previous day at 148.

The number of suspected patients tested at screening clinics on the previous day was 37,423, which is 4,012 fewer than the previous day's 41,435.

The number of confirmed cases released from quarantine increased by 655, totaling 153,153, and the number of patients currently in isolation treatment increased by 721, totaling 11,531.

The positivity rate calculated by confirmed cases against the number of tests was 3.68% (1,378 out of 37,423), up from 3.18% (1,316 out of 41,435) the previous day. As of midnight on that day, the cumulative positivity rate was 1.53% (166,722 out of 10,881,640 tests).

Meanwhile, the government raised the social distancing level in the Seoul metropolitan area, where the spread is severe, to the highest level 4 for two weeks from the 12th to the 25th. Strengthened quarantine measures include restricting private gatherings of three or more people after 6 p.m.

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