COVID-19 Cases Drop Below 2,000... Non-Capital Regions Hit New High Again

1,987 Cases, Down 235 from Previous Day... Second Highest Ever
Considering High-Intensity Quarantine Measures of Level 4 or Above

On the 12th, as 1,987 new COVID-19 cases were reported and nationwide spread continued, citizens visiting the screening clinic set up at the Songpa-gu Public Health Center in Seoul were waiting to get tested. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] The daily number of new COVID-19 cases in South Korea approached 2,000 on the 12th, reaching 1,987. This is 235 fewer than the previous day's record high of 2,222, bringing the count below the 2,000 mark, but it remains the second-largest number ever recorded. For 37 consecutive days, the number of cases has stayed in the four digits, and cases outside the metropolitan area have again hit the highest level since the first major outbreak, prompting health authorities to consider additional quarantine measures.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced that as of midnight on the 12th, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases increased by 1,987 from the previous day to 218,192. Of these, 1,947 were locally transmitted cases and 40 were imported. Although the number of new cases decreased slightly from the previous day, the weekly average of locally transmitted cases, a key indicator for adjusting social distancing levels, rose above 1,700 for the first time at 1,727.3, indicating a continuing spread.

In particular, the number of locally transmitted cases outside the metropolitan area reached 746, marking the highest since the first major outbreak. Busan reported 128 cases, maintaining over 100 cases for nine consecutive days, while Gyeongnam had 108, Chungnam 84, and Chungbuk 75, with cases surging across the country.

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