COVID-19 New Cases 'Weekend Record' 1,487... Non-Capital Regions Hit Consecutive Highs

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] As the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) resurges domestically, the number of new confirmed cases on the 25th recorded in the high 1400s.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight on that day, 1,487 new confirmed cases were added, bringing the total to 188,848.

Although this is 142 fewer than the previous day (1,629), dropping to the 1400 range for now, the number has remained in the four digits above 1,000 for 19 consecutive days since the 7th (1,212).

The figure of 1,487 itself is the highest for a weekend. The previous record was 1,454 on last Saturday (based on the announcement at midnight on the 18th), which was broken again after a week.

As the spread in non-metropolitan areas intensifies, the proportion of cases occurring locally has risen to nearly 40%, and with the peak summer vacation season overlapping, concerns about further spread are high.

Accordingly, the government decided to strengthen quarantine measures in non-metropolitan areas as well and will hold a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) in the afternoon to finalize related measures.

Meanwhile, looking at the infection routes of new confirmed cases on that day, 1,422 were locally transmitted, and 65 were imported cases. By region, Seoul had 478 cases, Gyeonggi 315, Incheon 83, totaling 876 cases (61.6%) in the metropolitan area.

The number of locally transmitted cases in the metropolitan area falling to the 800s is the first time in five days since the 20th (833 cases).

In non-metropolitan areas, there were 116 cases in Gyeongnam, 106 in Busan, 69 in Daegu, 54 in Daejeon, 45 in Chungnam, 37 in Chungbuk, 28 in Gyeongbuk, 25 in Gangwon, 16 in Jeonnam, 14 in Jeju, 11 in Gwangju, 9 each in Ulsan and Sejong, and 7 in Jeonbuk, totaling 546 cases (38.4%).

Non-metropolitan confirmed cases have remained in the 500s for five consecutive days since the 21st (550 → 546 → 565 → 582 → 546). The proportion of non-metropolitan cases among all locally transmitted cases has exceeded 30% for eight consecutive days since the 18th (31.6% → 32.9% → 32.9% → 31.9% → 35.6% → 35.9% → 37.0% → 38.4%). Notably, the 38.4% on this day is the highest since the 4th wave of the pandemic.

The number of imported confirmed cases was 65, nine more than the previous day (56). Among these, 31 were identified during airport or port quarantine processes.

The remaining 34 tested positive while in self-quarantine at their residences or temporary living facilities in Seoul (11), Gyeonggi and Incheon (5 each), Chungbuk (4), Gyeongnam (3), Busan, Gwangju, and Chungnam (2 each).

Combining local transmissions and imported cases (excluding quarantine), Seoul had 489 cases, Gyeonggi 320, Incheon 88, totaling 897 cases. Confirmed cases were reported across all 17 cities and provinces nationwide. The number of deaths increased by 5 from the previous day, totaling 2,073. The domestic average fatality rate is 1.10%.

The number of critically ill patients totaled 257, an increase of 3 from the previous day (254).

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