5400 New COVID-19 Cases as of 9 PM... 267 More Than Previous Day (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] The number of new COVID-19 cases in South Korea was tentatively counted at 5,400 as of 9 a.m. on the 11th.

This is 267 more than the 5,133 cases reported at the same time on the previous weekday (10th) (final count 6,977) and 1,383 more than the 4,017 cases at the same time last Saturday (4th).

The number of infections in the metropolitan area and non-metropolitan areas were 3,948 (71%) and 1,452 (27%), respectively. Considering the recent trend of confirmed cases, the total number of cases on this day is expected to be around 7,000.

By region, the cases were as follows: Seoul 2,094, Gyeonggi 1,404, Incheon 450, Busan 320, Gyeongbuk 147, Chungnam 141, Gyeongnam 138, Daegu 136, Gangwon 123, Daejeon 115, Jeonbuk 66, Chungbuk 59, Gwangju 56, Ulsan 45, Jeju 32, Sejong 15.

As of 6 p.m., six new cases related to the Songpa-gu market were reported, bringing the cumulative total to 508 positive cases. The number of confirmed cases related to a nursing facility in Gangbuk-gu increased by three to a total of 18, and two additional cases related to a residential facility in Yongsan-gu brought the total to 30. Regarding the Dongjak-gu market, one more confirmed case was added, bringing the cumulative total to 618.

As of 2 p.m., Busan, which set a new record for the highest number of cases, continues to experience cluster infections centered around bathhouses, churches, hospitals, and markets.

In Gyeongnam, three additional cases related to a religious facility in Changwon were confirmed, bringing the cumulative total to 24. Two more staff members at a nursing hospital in Gimhae were added, totaling 16 cases. One more confirmed case related to a school in Tongyeong (cumulative 14) was also reported. In Gangwon Province, 24 cases related to a colatec in Wonju and 16 sporadic infections in Gangneung, as well as 13 cases in Hongcheon, were confirmed.

In Jeonbuk, an Afghan international student who entered from Iran tested positive for the Omicron variant. Three family members, including the student's nephew, also tested positive for COVID-19. The nephew attends a childcare facility in the Wanju area, which is believed to be contributing to the spread of COVID-19.

The related confirmed cases are grouped as follows: four cohabiting family members, 22 related to childcare centers and kindergartens in Jeonbuk, six related to family gatherings, and seven related to childcare centers in Jeonnam. By city and province, there are 28 cases in Jeonbuk, 10 in Jeonnam, and one in Seoul. Health authorities are conducting variant tests on these cases, considering a high possibility of the Omicron variant.

In Gwangju, 12 students at a middle school in Gwangsan-gu were infected in a cluster. After one student tested positive following a symptomatic test the previous day, the student's sibling attending the same school also tested positive. Consequently, health authorities conducted mass testing on 1,037 students and 99 staff members, confirming 12 additional cases.

Meanwhile, the government has decided to uniformly shorten the interval for booster shots (third doses) for adults aged 18 and over to three months starting from the 13th. However, to provide sufficient time between the second and third doses, the current six-month validity period for the vaccine pass (proof of vaccination or negative test) will be maintained.

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