1,784 New COVID-19 Cases... Another 'Record High' Changed Within a Week

On the 21st, when 1,784 new COVID-19 cases were reported, setting a record high in a week, citizens who visited the temporary screening clinic near the Express Bus Terminal in Seocho-gu, Seoul, are waiting to get tested. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] The number of new COVID-19 cases in South Korea reached a record high of 1,784. Amid the ongoing '4th wave,' the weekly record has been broken consecutively: 1,378 cases on the 10th, 1,614 on the 14th, and 1,784 on the 21st.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight on the 14th, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases increased by 1,784 from the previous day to 182,265. Among the new cases, 1,726 were locally transmitted and 58 were imported. The weekly average of locally transmitted cases, a key indicator for adjusting social distancing levels, stood at 1,429.9, marking 31 consecutive days of increase.

By region, 68.1% of the locally transmitted cases, totaling 1,175, were reported in the Seoul metropolitan area: Seoul with 599 cases (34.7%), Gyeonggi with 450 cases (26.1%), and Incheon with 126 cases (7.3%).

Outside the metropolitan area, 551 cases were confirmed, surpassing 500 for the first time. The breakdown is as follows: Busan 100, Daegu 34, Gwangju 22, Daejeon 72, Ulsan 18, Sejong 6, Gangwon 54, Chungbuk 15, Chungnam 48, Jeonbuk 18, Jeonnam 21, Gyeongbuk 23, Gyeongnam 86, and Jeju 34 cases.

There were 58 imported cases, with 23 detected during quarantine and 35 identified in the community. Among them, 29 were Korean nationals and 29 were foreigners. The 247 infected soldiers from the Cheonghae Unit who returned on the 20th are expected to be included in the imported cases announced at midnight on the 22nd after re-testing in South Korea.

The total number of tests conducted the previous day was 140,247. Temporary screening clinics in the metropolitan area conducted 84,919 tests, confirming 352 new cases, while 9,366 tests were conducted at non-metropolitan temporary screening clinics, confirming 19 cases.

The death toll rose by one to 2,060, and the number of critically ill patients increased by seven to 214 compared to the previous day.

On the 19th, when COVID-19 vaccinations began for high school seniors and school staff, students are receiving vaccines at the Yongsan District Vaccination Center in Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

Meanwhile, as of midnight on the same day, 149,984 people received new COVID-19 vaccinations. The cumulative number of first-dose vaccinations reached 16,442,892, representing a vaccination rate of 32.0% of the population. Among these, 553 received AstraZeneca (AZ), 149,420 Pfizer, and 11 Moderna vaccines.

The number of people who completed vaccination increased by 45,095 from the previous day to 6,844,839, with a second-dose vaccination rate of 13.0% of the population. Among those who received the first dose of the AZ vaccine, 6,222 received a second dose of AZ, and 31,137 received a second dose of Pfizer as a mixed vaccination. Additionally, 6,802 people completed vaccination with Pfizer only, bringing the total to 3,728,099. Moderna vaccinations increased by 934.

Reports of suspected adverse reactions following vaccination increased by 1,965 over two days, totaling 108,156 cases. These include 446 for AZ, 1,438 for Pfizer, 60 for Janssen, and 21 for Moderna. The cumulative adverse reaction reporting rates are 0.67% for AZ, 0.26% for Pfizer, 0.65% for Janssen, and 0.71% for Moderna.

Among the new reports, 1,881 cases involved common post-vaccination symptoms such as muscle pain, headache, fever, chills, and nausea, accounting for the majority.

Serious adverse reactions included 8 suspected anaphylaxis cases and 69 additional reports of major neurological and other serious reactions. There were 7 reported deaths following vaccination: 2 after AZ, 4 after Pfizer, and 1 after Janssen vaccination.

Regarding the first-dose AZ and second-dose Pfizer mixed vaccination ongoing this month, 395 additional adverse reaction cases were reported over two days, bringing the total to 1,644. The adverse reaction reporting rate is 0.22%. Among these, 389 were general adverse reactions and 5 were major neurological or other serious reactions. One death was also reported. Mixed vaccination adverse reactions are included in the Pfizer vaccine adverse reaction statistics.

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