1 in 100 People in Korea Infected with COVID-19

Cumulative Confirmed Cases Reach 503,606... Expected to Surpass 510,000 Tomorrow
Lower Than Overseas Levels but Rapid Increase Since With Corona
'Herd Immunity' Practically Unsuccessful

On the 10th, as 7,022 new COVID-19 cases were reported, marking the third consecutive day with over 7,000 cases, citizens visiting the temporary screening site set up at Seogang University Station Plaza in Mapo-gu, Seoul, are waiting to get tested. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] It has been revealed that 1 out of every 100 people in the nation has been infected with the COVID-19 virus.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 10th, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases increased by 7,022 in a single day, marking the unprecedented occurrence of over 7,000 cases for three consecutive days. The cumulative number of confirmed cases reached 503,606, surpassing 500,000. This comes 690 days after the first confirmed COVID-19 case in the country on January 19 of last year.

According to the resident registration population statistics from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, as of the end of last month, the registered resident population (residents) in the country was 51,332,217. One percent of this is 513,322 people, and if the current spread continues, it is expected to exceed this number around the 11th. Considering the time lag between actual infection and confirmation, it is possible that this number has already been surpassed.

However, this corresponds to about 1,000 cases per 100,000 people, which is still relatively low compared to major foreign countries. According to the international statistics site Our World in Data, as of the 8th (local time), the United States, which has the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases at 49.54 million, has 14,880 cases per 100,000 people. The United Kingdom has about 10.67 million cumulative cases, but the infection rate per 100,000 people reaches 15,646. Spain (46.75 million) and Canada (38.07 million), both with smaller populations than Korea, have much higher cumulative confirmed cases at 5.25 million and 1.83 million respectively. This is the result of relatively well suppressing the scale of confirmed cases through high-intensity social distancing over the past two years.

However, since the 'gradual recovery to daily life (With COVID)' began last month, there are concerns that this suppression of confirmed cases has instead led to faster spread. Since the start of With COVID, the cumulative confirmed cases alone have reached 138,914, accounting for 27.6% of the total confirmed cases. With the public's vigilance toward quarantine measures relaxed, it is assessed that the government's goal of achieving herd immunity through an 80% vaccination completion rate has effectively failed.

There are also criticisms that excessive suppression of confirmed cases has hindered the formation of additional immunity beyond vaccine immunity. It is evaluated that immunity through natural infection has not been properly formed. According to a survey conducted by the National Institute of Health in June before the full-scale vaccination began, involving 4,001 residents in the metropolitan area, the antibody positivity rate was extremely low at 0.85%. The institute is currently conducting a nationwide antibody generation rate analysis based on blood from blood donors. A representative from the institute explained, "This is the first time antibody generation rates are being investigated since the full-scale vaccination began," adding, "Through this, we can determine whether antibodies were generated from COVID-19 infection or from vaccination."

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