COVID-19 New Cases Back to 1,800s... Vaccination Completion Surpasses 10 Million

On the 17th, as the spread of COVID-19 continues, citizens are lining up to get tested at a temporary screening clinic set up in Seoul Station Plaza. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] The number of new COVID-19 cases in South Korea rose to 1,805, surpassing 1,800 again after three days. Following the end of the three-day holiday due to the substitute holiday for Liberation Day, the number of confirmed cases surged once more.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency announced on the 18th at midnight that the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases increased by 1,805 from the previous day to 228,657. Among the new cases, 1,767 were locally transmitted and 38 were imported. The weekly average of locally transmitted cases, a key indicator for adjusting social distancing levels, stood at 1,721.1.

By region, 1,107 cases, accounting for 62.6% of local transmissions, were reported in the Seoul metropolitan area. This marks a return to over 1,000 cases after three days. The breakdown by region is Seoul 507, Gyeonggi 509, and Incheon 91.

Outside the metropolitan area, 660 cases were confirmed: ▲Busan 123 ▲Daegu 61 ▲Gwangju 30 ▲Daejeon 32 ▲Ulsan 31 ▲Sejong 6 ▲Gangwon 40 ▲Chungbuk 32 ▲Chungnam 70 ▲Jeonbuk 19 ▲Jeonnam 32 ▲Gyeongbuk 35 ▲Gyeongnam 104 ▲Jeju 45.

There were 38 imported cases, with 15 detected during quarantine and 23 identified in the community. Among them, 13 were Korean nationals and 25 were foreigners.

The total number of tests conducted the previous day was 168,491. Temporary screening clinics in the metropolitan area conducted 96,328 tests, while 15,454 tests were performed at temporary screening clinics outside the metropolitan area.

The death toll rose by 5 to 2,178, and the number of critically ill patients increased by 12 to 366 compared to the previous day.

On the morning of the 17th, medical staff are administering vaccines to citizens at the Sadang Sports Complex, where a vaccination center has been set up in Dongjak-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, as of midnight on the same day, 718,883 people received new COVID-19 vaccinations. The cumulative number of first-dose vaccinations reached 23,780,511, representing a vaccination rate of 46.3% of the population. The breakdown includes 31,129 AstraZeneca (AZ) doses, 424,741 Pfizer doses, and 263,013 Moderna doses.

The number of fully vaccinated individuals increased by 493,672 from the previous day to 10,491,866, surpassing 10 million. The population vaccination rate for the second dose is 20.4%. Among those who received the first AZ dose, 423,293 received their second dose with AZ, and 37,275 received a second dose with Pfizer as a mixed vaccination. Additionally, 33,056 people completed vaccination with Pfizer only, bringing the total to 5,269,845. Moderna second doses were administered to 48 people.

Reports of suspected adverse reactions following vaccination increased by 4,158 over two days, totaling 145,013 cases. These include 954 AZ cases, 2,786 Pfizer cases, 12 Janssen cases, and 406 Moderna cases. The cumulative reporting rates for adverse reactions are 0.59% for AZ, 0.30% for Pfizer, 0.67% for Janssen, and 0.42% for Moderna.

Among the new reports, common post-vaccination symptoms such as muscle pain, headache, fever, chills, and nausea accounted for 4,013 cases, making up the majority.

Serious adverse reactions included 27 suspected anaphylaxis cases and 113 additional reports of major neurological and other serious reactions. There were five reported deaths following vaccination: three after AZ and two after Pfizer.

Regarding the mixed vaccination of first-dose AZ and second-dose Pfizer, ongoing since last month, 148 additional adverse reactions were reported over two days, bringing the total to 3,205. The reporting rate for adverse reactions in this group is 0.29%. Among these, 146 were general adverse reactions and 2 were major neurological or other serious reactions. No deaths were reported. Adverse reactions from mixed vaccinations are included in the Pfizer vaccine adverse reaction statistics.

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