Over 2,000 Cases Again After 8 Days... Review of 4-Week Extension of Level 4 Restrictions in the Capital Area
2152 Cases as Holiday Effect Ends... Second Highest Ever
Highest Number of Severe Cases Since 4th Wave
On the 16th, a citizen is undergoing a test at the temporary COVID-19 screening site set up at Anseong Rest Area in the Seoul direction. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@
View original image[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] The number of new COVID-19 cases in South Korea has risen back to the 2,000 range after eight days. As the spread remains uncontrolled, there is a possibility that the current high-intensity social distancing measures?Level 4 in the metropolitan area and Level 3 in non-metropolitan areas, set to end on the 22nd?may be extended for up to four weeks.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's Central Disease Control Headquarters announced on the 19th at midnight that the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases increased by 2,152 from the previous day to 230,808. Of these, 2,114 were locally transmitted cases and 38 were imported. The key indicator for adjusting social distancing levels, the weekly average of locally transmitted cases, stood at 1,745.
On the same day, the number of critically ill COVID-19 patients rose by 24 from the previous day to 390, marking the highest figure since the fourth wave. The previous peak was 411 patients on January 6, before COVID-19 vaccinations began. Despite the vaccination completion rate surpassing 20%, the spread of the highly risky Delta variant has caused a sharp increase in critically ill patients.
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The health authorities are expected to announce the social distancing level, which is set to end on the 22nd, on the 20th. Since the weekly average of locally transmitted cases has remained in the 1,700 range for eight consecutive days without a clear downward trend, and considering that the large-scale population movement due to the vacation season and the Gwangbokjeol holiday has not yet fully materialized, it is highly likely that the current measures will be extended. Authorities are also reportedly considering applying the extension period for four weeks instead of two, taking into account the upcoming Chuseok holiday next month.
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