Nationwide COVID-19 Cases Continue... "Acceleration in the Rate of Increase in Confirmed Cases"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jihwan] COVID-19 cases are continuously rising nationwide. With the summer vacation season in full swing and the upcoming Gwangbokjeol holiday and school reopening, concerns about further spread are increasing.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) as of midnight on the 11th, there were 2,223 new confirmed cases domestically. Among these, 2,145 were locally transmitted cases. In the metropolitan area, 1,405 cases (65.5%) were reported, while 740 cases (34.5%) occurred in non-metropolitan areas. In particular, confirmed cases surged in the metropolitan area including Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi Province. Until last week, metropolitan cases fluctuated between the high 600s and 1,000s, but on the 10th, they sharply increased to 1,405.

Since the first domestic COVID-19 case was reported in January last year, the number of confirmed cases exceeded 2,000 for the first time in one and a half years, setting a record high, and cases are continuing to surge nationwide today as well.

According to Gangwon Province health authorities, as of 5 p.m. on the same day, confirmed COVID-19 cases were 8 each in Gangneung and Sokcho, 7 in Chuncheon, 5 in Wonju, 3 each in Yeongwol and Cheorwon, 2 each in Donghae and Taebaek, and 1 in Hongcheon. The cumulative number of confirmed cases in the province stands at 4,828.

In Gangneung, 8 people including resort employees and restaurant owners tested positive, and in Sokcho, 8 people including lodging business operators and daycare children were confirmed positive. In Chuncheon, 7 people including construction workers and foreign laborers were confirmed, and in Wonju, 5 people including elementary school students, daycare children, and academy vehicle drivers tested positive. In Cheorwon, 2 elementary school students and a kindergarten child were confirmed, and in Taebaek, a family member of an existing confirmed case was infected.

In Jeju Province, by 5 p.m., a total of 22 people tested positive, including 15 contacts of local confirmed cases, 2 residents and visitors who had visited the metropolitan area, and 5 voluntary testers. Among the 15 local chain infection cases, 2 were linked to the cluster infection case of the 'Jeju City family and daycare center.' As a result, the number of confirmed cases related to the Jeju City family and daycare center cluster increased to 14. The remaining 13 local chain infection cases were confirmed through contact with family and acquaintances. Since the beginning of this month, Jeju Province has reported several 187 confirmed cases, with a cumulative total of 1,939 cases.

Major new cluster infection cases on this day include 15 confirmed cases related to a restaurant in Seo-gu, Incheon. There were also 16 confirmed cases each related to a gym in Seongnam City, Gyeonggi Province, and an alternative school in Ansan City, Gyeonggi Province. At an academy in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 14 cases were confirmed, and 23 cases were linked to a foreign acquaintance gathering in Asan City, Chungnam Province. A total of 37 people tested positive related to a workplace in Eumseong County, Chungbuk Province, and a cement manufacturing business in Icheon City, Gyeonggi Province. The cumulative number of confirmed cases related to an elementary school after-school care classroom in Dalseo-gu, Daegu, reached 23. In Suyeong-gu, Busan, a total of 14 confirmed cases were reported related to the market.

The speed of increase in confirmed cases nationwide is also accelerating. Until the previous day, the cumulative number of confirmed cases in Jeonbuk Province reached 3,026. This is about 18 months since the first confirmed case was reported on January 30 last year. It took 356 days until the cumulative confirmed cases reached the first 1,000 on January 20 this year. After that, it took 107 days (until May 7) to increase from 1,000 to 2,000 cases, and 95 days to increase from 2,000 to 3,000 cases, showing an accelerating trend. The periods taken to increase by 1,000 cases shortened from 356 days to 107 days to 95 days, indicating a progressively faster spread.

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