COVID-19 New Cases Hit Record High Again at 3,292

On the morning of the 18th, citizens are waiting to be tested at the COVID-19 screening clinic at Songpa Public Health Center in Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] On the 18th, the number of new COVID-19 cases reached a record high of 3,292.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight on that day, the total cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in the country increased by 3,292 from the previous day to 406,065. Of these, 3,272 were domestic cases and 20 were imported cases.

This surpasses the previous record of 3,242 new daily cases set on September 25, when testing surged after the Chuseok holiday. Notably, this is the first time that new daily cases have exceeded 3,000 for two consecutive days, following 3,163 cases the day before. While the spike in cases last September was temporary due to increased testing after the Chuseok holiday, this time the continuous rise in cases amid the ongoing 'gradual recovery to daily life (With COVID-19)' signals a warning. The weekly average of locally transmitted cases also exceeded 2,500 for the first time in 49 days since October 1, reaching 2,513.9.

By region, the Seoul metropolitan area accounted for 2,583 cases, or 78.9%, with Seoul reporting 1,423 cases, Incheon 195, and Gyeonggi 965.

Non-metropolitan cases totaled 689, distributed as follows: ▲Busan 90 ▲Daegu 73 ▲Gwangju 34 ▲Daejeon 36 ▲Ulsan 9 ▲Sejong 10 ▲Gangwon 61 ▲Chungbuk 26 ▲Chungnam 80 ▲Jeonbuk 54 ▲Jeonnam 40 ▲Gyeongbuk 50 ▲Gyeongnam 98 ▲Jeju 28.

Among the 20 imported cases, 7 were detected during quarantine and 13 were confirmed within the community.

On the morning of the 18th, citizens are waiting to be tested at the COVID-19 screening clinic at Songpa Public Health Center in Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The number of severe cases currently hospitalized, which had been rapidly increasing recently, decreased by 16 from the previous day to 506, showing a slight slowdown in the upward trend, but still remained above 500 for two consecutive days.

The ICU bed occupancy rate remains at a critical level. As of 5 p.m. the previous day, 719 out of 1,127 ICU beds nationwide (63.8%) were in use. In particular, the Seoul metropolitan area had occupancy rates of 80.9% in Seoul, 72.2% in Incheon, and 76.4% in Gyeonggi, with 537 out of 687 beds (78.2%) occupied. This exceeds the 75% ICU bed occupancy rate that the health authorities had cited as a key condition for triggering the 'emergency plan,' and Seoul is effectively considered to be in a 'depletion' phase.

The death toll increased by 29 the previous day, bringing the total cumulative deaths to 3,187. However, the fatality rate remains at approximately 0.78%.

According to the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team, 44,991 people received their first dose the previous day, bringing the total number of first-dose recipients to 42,116,520. The first-dose vaccination rate relative to the population is 82.0%. Among those aged 18 and over, 93.1% have completed their first dose. The number of people who completed vaccination the previous day was 65,899, bringing the total to 40,312,386. The vaccination completion rate relative to the population is 78.5%, and 90.7% among those aged 18 and over.

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