26,273 New COVID-19 Cases Nationwide by 9 PM... 30,000 Possible Tomorrow (Summary)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Amid the spread of the Omicron variant, COVID-19 cases have been continuously reported nationwide, with about 26,000 confirmed cases reported by 9 p.m. on the 4th.

According to the quarantine authorities, Seoul city, and other local governments, from midnight to 9 p.m. on the same day, a total of 26,273 people tested positive for COVID-19 across 17 cities and provinces nationwide. This is 3,928 more than the previous day’s record high of 22,345 cases during the same time period. With time remaining until midnight, the number of new confirmed cases counted as of 0 a.m. on the 5th is expected to exceed the record high of 27,443 cases on the day and may reach 30,000.

From next week, when the nationwide movement during the Lunar New Year holiday begins to take full effect, the increase in confirmed cases is expected to accelerate further. The count as of 9 p.m. on this day is 1.8 times higher than the 14,472 cases reported by 9 p.m. on the 28th of last month, one week ago. Compared to 5,851 cases at the same time two weeks ago on the 21st of last month, it has increased 4.5 times. The number of confirmed cases is nearly doubling every week. With time remaining until midnight when the count closes, the number of new confirmed cases announced on the 5th is expected to increase even more.

New confirmed cases were 15,152 (57.7%) in the metropolitan area and 11,121 (42.3%) in non-metropolitan areas. By city and province, the numbers are Seoul 7,673, Gyeonggi 5,121, Incheon 2,358, Daegu 1,640, Busan 1,515, Gyeongbuk 1,492, Daejeon 1,032, Jeonnam 964, Gwangju 950, Gangwon 701, Chungnam 643, Chungbuk 514, Ulsan 503, Jeonbuk 372, Sejong 298, Gyeongnam 267, and Jeju 230. Confirmed cases were reported in all 17 cities and provinces.

Due to the spread of Omicron, the daily number of new confirmed cases in South Korea is breaking records almost every day. The daily new confirmed cases over the past week from the 29th of last month were 17,512 → 17,528 → 17,079 → 18,341 → 20,269 → 22,907 → 27,443, averaging about 20,154 cases per day.

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