COVID-19 New Cases 3,150... 905 Fewer Than a Week Ago (Comprehensive)

3,300 Local Cases, 210 Imported Cases

Severe and Critical Patients Remain in the 800s for Third Day
54 New Deaths, Total 5,986
Severe Bed Occupancy Rate Falls Below 50% for First Time in 63 Days

On the 5th, medical staff communicated via walkie-talkies at Hyemin Hospital in Gwangjin-gu, a dedicated COVID-19 hospital in Seoul. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight, the number of critically ill patients decreased by 20 from the previous day to 953. This is the lowest figure in 22 days since December 14 last year (906 patients). Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Minji Lee] Although the number of new COVID-19 cases showed a declining trend, the number of critically ill patients remained in the 800s on the 8th. The death toll increased by 54, bringing the cumulative total to 5,986.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced that as of midnight on this day, 3,510 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed, bringing the cumulative number of confirmed cases to 660,115.

The number of new cases on this day was 206 fewer than the previous day (3,716) and 905 fewer compared to a week ago on the 1st (4,415). The number of confirmed cases in the 3,000 range on a Friday was recorded for the first time in seven weeks since November 20 last year (3,204). The number of new cases has been declining as the third dose of vaccination has been administered mainly to those aged 60 and over, and social distancing measures have been strengthened since the 18th of last month.

The number of critically ill patients was 838, one less than the previous day (839), marking the third consecutive day in the 800s since the 6th (882). As the number of critically ill patients decreased and hospital beds gradually increased due to administrative orders, the utilization rate of COVID-19 severe care beds as of 5 p.m. the previous day was 49.1% (867 out of 1,766 beds in use), falling below 50% for the first time in 63 days since November 5 last year (49.3%).

The utilization rate of severe care beds is at the level of October (48.9%) and November (49.9%) last year. However, in the metropolitan area, the utilization rate of severe care beds is 52.0%, exceeding 50%. The nationwide utilization rate of semi-critical care beds is 42.9%, and the utilization rate of beds in infectious disease-dedicated hospitals is 35.0%.

The death toll increased by 54, totaling 5,986. The cumulative fatality rate is 0.91%. Regarding the infection routes of new confirmed cases, 3,300 were locally transmitted, and 210 were imported cases.

Among locally transmitted cases, Gyeonggi had 1,168, Seoul 933, and Incheon 193, totaling 2,294 cases (69.5%) in the metropolitan area. In non-metropolitan areas, there were 173 in Busan, 104 in Daegu, 96 in Gyeongnam, 93 each in Jeonnam and Chungnam, 87 in Gwangju, 82 in Gyeongbuk, 77 in Gangwon, 64 in Jeonbuk, 51 in Chungbuk, 42 in Daejeon, 27 in Ulsan, 11 in Sejong, and 6 in Jeju, totaling 1,006 cases (30.5%).

The number of imported cases was 210, an increase of 22 from the previous day (188), marking the first time in three days since the 5th that the number reached the 200s. The figure of 210 is the second highest ever among imported cases. Since the number of imported cases rose to triple digits on the 29th of last month (126), it has remained in the triple digits for 11 consecutive days.

From the 2nd for one week, the number of new confirmed cases was 3,831 → 3,125 → 322 (initially reported as 3,023 but later corrected) → 4,443 → 4,125 → 3,716 → 3,510, averaging about 3,682 cases per day. On the previous day, the number of tests conducted at screening clinics for suspected cases was 74,511, and the number of tests at temporary screening clinics was 139,222, totaling 213,733 tests.

Meanwhile, the domestic COVID-19 vaccination completion rate as of midnight on this day was 83.7% (a cumulative total of 42,953,371 people), and the third dose vaccination rate was 40.2% of the total population (2,651,897 people).

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