Sunday peak of 1,429 cases... This week likely to exceed 2,000 cases

Spread slowed due to holiday season impact, then surged
Saturday 1,823 cases, weekend cases exceed 1,700 for the first time

Experts say "Expand remote work, accelerate vaccination"

On the 9th, citizens are lining up to get tested at a temporary screening clinic in front of Seoul City Hall. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] The number of new COVID-19 cases recorded on Sunday reached an all-time high, fueling the flames of the 4th wave of the pandemic. Typically, the number of confirmed cases decreases over the weekend due to fewer tests being conducted, but with nearly 1,500 new cases reported the previous day, there are projections that daily confirmed cases could exceed 2,000 sometime this week.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 9th, as of midnight, the number of new COVID-19 cases was 1,492, marking the highest number ever recorded on a Sunday (reported on Monday). Since the 4th wave was triggered on the 5th of last month, the upward trend had steadily continued with 711 → 1,100 → 1,251 → 1,318 cases, although it slightly dipped to 1,218 on the 2nd. However, the number surged again to 1,492 on this day, indicating a strong acceleration in the spread.

Professor Chun Eun-mi of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Ewha Mokdong Hospital stated, "The recent slowdown in the spread is largely due to a decrease in testing during the holiday season," and warned, "Based on the current trend, the number of confirmed cases could exceed 2,000 on the 11th or 12th."

So far, the trend in COVID-19 confirmed cases has shown a pattern where the number of PCR tests decreases over the weekend, leading to fewer confirmed cases on Monday and Tuesday, followed by a sharp increase from Wednesday to Friday, and then returning to average levels over Saturday and Sunday. However, last week, the number of new cases on Saturday the 7th reached 1,823, the highest during the week, and for five consecutive days from Wednesday to Sunday, the number of confirmed cases remained above 1,700. This is also the first time weekend cases have exceeded 1,700.

The weekly average of locally transmitted cases, a key indicator for adjusting social distancing levels, also reached a record high of 1,579.6 as of this day. In particular, the weekly average of confirmed cases outside the metropolitan area was 621.6, surpassing the previous record of 594.3 (March 6) set during the first wave last year when a large number of Shincheonji-related cases occurred in Daegu.

Busan, which has recorded daily cases in the 100s for six consecutive days, decided to raise its social distancing level to Level 4 starting this day, becoming the second non-metropolitan city after Daejeon to do so.

The health authorities also believe that the current situation has not yet reached its peak. Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said, "The 4th wave is not only the largest in scale compared to previous waves but also will take the longest time to reach its peak." Considering that the previous 3rd wave took 6 to 7 weeks to peak, it is possible that the peak will be reached around the end of this month.

Experts advise that rapid vaccination is necessary alongside adjustments to social distancing. Professor Chun emphasized, "To prevent the spread of the Delta variant (Indian variant), reducing contact is paramount," adding, "At Level 4, schools stop in-person classes, but workplaces continue to operate, creating an imbalance. The government should step in to strengthen remote work and ensure that multi-use facilities like restaurants and cafes operate mainly through takeout and delivery."

Professor Jung Jae-hoon of Gachon University’s Department of Preventive Medicine said, "Because the Delta variant spreads rapidly, it is difficult to expect a decrease in confirmed cases through social distancing alone," and added, "We need to maintain social distancing at a level that prevents further increases in cases, buying time to accelerate vaccination efforts."

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