COVID-19 New Cases 54,122 ... Home Treatment 174,117 (Comprehensive)

50,000 Cases Again, Another Record High Due to Omicron Spread
282 Critically Ill, 20 Deaths Yesterday ... Fatality Rate 0.59%

On the 9th, citizens are conducting rapid antigen tests themselves at the COVID-19 screening clinic of Gangnam-gu Public Health Center in Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] During the COVID-19 Omicron variant surge, the daily new confirmed cases have soared past 50,000.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight on the 10th, there were 54,122 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total cumulative confirmed cases to 1,185,361. The daily new cases increased by 4,555 compared to the previous day (49,567 cases).

The number of confirmed cases, which was close to 50,000 the day before, surpassed the 50,000 mark for the first time on this day and immediately rose to the mid-50,000s. The daily new confirmed cases have been rapidly increasing since entering the 10,000 range on the 26th of last month with 13,008 cases, then reaching the 20,000 range (20,268 cases) on the 2nd of this month, the 30,000 range (36,345 cases) on the 5th, the 40,000 range on the 9th, and now the 50,000 range.

With the Omicron variant, which has a low fatality rate but high transmissibility, spreading nationwide, the surge in confirmed cases continues, compounded by increased movement and face-to-face contacts during the recent Lunar New Year holiday. Authorities forecast that daily cases could reach between 130,000 and 170,000 by the end of this month due to the rapid increase.

As of midnight on this day, the number of critically ill patients was 282, down by 3 from the previous day (285). Although the number has remained in the 200s for 13 consecutive days, it has increased compared to the low of 257 on the 4th, marking two consecutive days in the 280s.

The death toll increased by 20 to a total of 6,963, with a cumulative fatality rate of 0.59%. The nationwide COVID-19 severe bed occupancy rate is relatively stable at 19.4% (492 out of 2,538 beds in use).

With a rapid increase in asymptomatic and mild cases, the number of patients under home treatment as of midnight on this day rose by 6,157 from the previous day (168,020) to 174,177.

To focus medical resources on high-risk vulnerable groups, the government has started implementing health monitoring only for the 'intensive management group'?those aged 60 and above and those in their 50s with underlying conditions?from this day, while the 'general management group' has shifted to a home treatment system where they self-monitor their health status.

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