COVID-19 New Cases Stay in the 1,000s for Two Consecutive Days... Spread Slows Due to 'Weekend Effect'

On the afternoon of the 8th, citizens holding umbrellas are waiting for specimen tests at the COVID-19 screening clinic set up at Guro Station in Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] On the 9th day of implementing the 'gradual recovery to daily life (With Corona)', the number of new COVID-19 cases in South Korea reached 1,715, marking the second consecutive day with cases in the 1,000 range. However, this is analyzed to be influenced by the 'weekend effect,' such as a decrease in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests over the weekend, while the weekly average of locally transmitted cases rose to 2,182, showing an upward trend for 16 consecutive days.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight, the total number of new COVID-19 cases in South Korea increased by 1,715 to reach 383,407. Of these, 1,698 were locally transmitted, and 17 were imported cases.

The number of new cases reported at midnight on Tuesdays has shown a continuous increase: 1,073 on October 19 → 1,265 on October 26 → 1,589 on November 2 → 1,715 on November 9. The weekly average of locally transmitted cases also rose to 2,181.9.

By region, Seoul reported 659 cases, Gyeonggi 524, and Incheon 110, with the metropolitan area accounting for 1,293 cases, representing 76.1% of the total.

The number of cases outside the metropolitan area totaled 405. ▲Busan 46 ▲Daegu 43 ▲Gwangju 11 ▲Daejeon 24 ▲Ulsan 4 ▲Sejong 3 ▲Gangwon 21 ▲Chungbuk 17 ▲Chungnam 60 ▲Jeonbuk 11 ▲Jeonnam 21 ▲Gyeongbuk 48 ▲Gyeongnam 76 ▲Jeju 20.

Among the 17 imported cases, 5 were detected during quarantine, and 12 were confirmed within the local community.

The number of deaths increased by 18 from the previous day. The total cumulative deaths reached 2,998, with a fatality rate of 0.78%, and it is expected to surpass 3,000 within the day on the 9th. The number of critically ill patients in medical institutions was 425, an increase of 16 from the previous day, maintaining the 400s for five consecutive days.

According to the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team, 115,687 people received their first dose the previous day, bringing the total number of first-dose recipients to 41,638,366. The vaccination rate for the first dose among the population is 81.1%. Among those aged 18 and older, 92.7% have completed the first dose. The number of people who completed vaccination the previous day was 161,647, bringing the total to 39,496,809. The vaccination rate for completed doses is 76.9% of the population and 89.4% among those aged 18 and older.

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