New Cases 1,347, Four Consecutive Days Over 1,000... First Dose Vaccination Rate 77.9% (Update)

On the 10th, as the Mapo Agricultural and Marine Products Market in Seoul was closed due to a COVID-19 cluster infection, citizens visiting the nearby Mapo-gu Public Health Center screening clinic lined up in long queues for testing. As of midnight that day, the number of new confirmed cases was recorded at 1,594, influenced by a decrease in weekend testing volume. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] The number of new COVID-19 cases in South Korea recorded in the mid-1300s on the 12th.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced on the 12th at midnight that the number of new domestic COVID-19 cases increased by 1,347, bringing the total to 334,163. Of these, 1,334 were domestic cases and 13 were imported cases.

By region, Seoul reported 479 cases, Gyeonggi 406, and Incheon 81, totaling 966 cases (72.4%) in the metropolitan area.

Non-metropolitan areas reported a total of 368 cases (27.6%), including Chungbuk 69, Chungnam 55, Daegu 50, Gangwon 28, Busan 25, Gyeongbuk 24, Daejeon and Jeonbuk 23 each, Ulsan, Gyeongnam, and Jeonnam 17 each, Gwangju and Jeju 7 each, and Sejong 6.

Among the 13 imported cases, 3 were identified during quarantine, and the remaining 10 were confirmed in the local community. Six were Korean nationals and seven were foreigners. Ten cases were confirmed from Asian countries excluding China.

The death toll increased by 11 the previous day, bringing the total to 2,594, with a fatality rate of 0.78%. The number of critically ill patients is 364.

The number of newly released from isolation increased by 1,238, totaling 299,260.

The number of suspected cases tested was 30,165. At temporary screening clinics set up in the metropolitan area, 64,755 tests were conducted, confirming 260 cases. In non-metropolitan temporary screening clinics, 12,654 tests were conducted, identifying 56 cases. The total number of tests conducted was 107,574.

According to the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team, 90,817 people received their first dose the previous day, bringing the total number of first-dose recipients to 40,014,733. The vaccination rate for the first dose relative to the population is 77.9%. Among those aged 18 and over, 90.6% have completed their first dose.

The number of people who completed vaccination the previous day was 160,482, bringing the total to 30,606,048. The vaccination completion rate relative to the population is 59.6%.

As non-face-to-face classes continue due to COVID-19, the worries of merchants in university commercial districts are deepening. On the 8th, the commercial area near Ewha Womans University in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, appeared quiet due to the lack of students visiting. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting held at the Government Seoul Office on the same day, "This is a time to prepare for phased daily recovery and the last chance to gauge whether harmony between daily life and quarantine is possible," adding, "This week, we must decide on the social distancing level to be applied from next week."

He described the situation as "like walking on thin ice" and emphasized, "If the quarantine situation in October is managed stably, the daily recovery that the public desires can be brought forward a little, and the pain of small business owners and self-employed people can be alleviated."

Regarding the 'COVID-19 Daily Recovery Support Committee' officially launching on the 13th, Prime Minister Kim said, "It will play a central role in creating a blueprint for daily recovery by incorporating opinions from all walks of life," adding, "Phased daily recovery will be a journey that all citizens undertake together."

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