Daily COVID-19 Cases Approaching 20,000... 15,142 Confirmed by 9 PM (Comprehensive)

On the 28th, one day before the Lunar New Year holiday, despite fears of the COVID-19 Omicron variant and the government's request to refrain from returning to hometowns, the domestic terminal at Gimpo Airport in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, was crowded with passengers. On the same day, the screening clinic at Gangseo-gu Public Health Center appeared quiet. Health authorities are deeply concerned that Omicron may spread further during the Lunar New Year holiday. Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said in a public address on special COVID-19 measures on the 24th, "I earnestly ask everyone to refrain from visiting their hometowns this Lunar New Year for the safety and health of all." Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jin-ho Kim] As the COVID-19 Omicron variant spreads in earnest, confirmed cases are surging nationwide on the second day of the Lunar New Year holiday, the 30th. The number of cases has broken the record for the highest daily count again following the previous day.

According to the quarantine authorities, Seoul city, and other local governments, from midnight to 9 p.m. on this day, a total of 15,142 people tested positive for COVID-19 across 17 cities and provinces nationwide. This is the highest number recorded for this time period so far.

This figure is 670 more than the previous record of 14,472 cases on the 28th. It is also 1,550 more than the 13,592 cases recorded at the same time the previous day. Notably, it is 9,467 more than the 5,675 cases recorded at the same time one week ago on the 23rd, and a staggering 11,798 more than the 3,344 cases recorded two weeks ago on the 16th.

Since there is still time until midnight when the count closes, the number of new confirmed cases announced on the 31st is expected to increase further, reaching between 18,000 and 19,000. If this trend continues, the daily number of confirmed cases during or after the Lunar New Year holiday is expected to approach 20,000.

On the previous day, an additional 3,940 cases were reported from 9 p.m. to midnight, closing at 17,532 cases. On this day, new confirmed cases were 11,101 (66.7%) in the metropolitan area and 5,041 (33.3%) in non-metropolitan areas.

By city and province, the numbers are as follows: Gyeonggi 4,800, Seoul 4,021, Incheon 1,280, Daegu 975, Busan 770, Gyeongbuk 587, Gwangju 482, Daejeon 445, Jeonbuk 366, Jeonnam 294, Gangwon 277, Gyeongnam 206, Ulsan 201, Chungnam 158, Chungbuk 128, Sejong 78, Jeju 74. Confirmed cases were reported in all 17 cities and provinces.

Meanwhile, since the Omicron variant became the dominant strain in Korea, the scale of new confirmed cases has continued to increase. Over the past week from the 24th, the daily new confirmed cases were 7,511 → 8,570 → 13,009 → 14,514 → 16,095 → 17,526 → 17,532, averaging about 13,537 cases per day.

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