Already 43,515 Confirmed Cases by 6 PM... 1,140 More Than Yesterday

Gyeonggi 15,273 - Seoul 9,293 - Incheon 3,004, Total 27,570 in the Capital Area

On the 10th, as the number of new COVID-19 cases exceeded 50,000 for the first time ever, setting daily records, citizens lined up at the temporary screening clinic in Seoul Plaza for testing. According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH), as of midnight that day, the total number of new confirmed cases was 54,122, which is 2.4 times higher than the 22,906 cases reported on the 3rd, a week earlier. Previously, health authorities predicted that due to the spread of the Omicron variant, daily confirmed cases could reach between 130,000 and 170,000 by the end of this month. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] Amid the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, more than 40,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases have already been reported nationwide as of 6 p.m. on the 10th.

According to health authorities and local governments including Seoul City, from midnight to 6 p.m. on this day, a total of 43,515 people across 17 cities and provinces nationwide tested positive for COVID-19.

This is an increase of 1,140 cases compared to the previous day's 42,375, marking the highest number recorded for the same time period.

The widespread infections accumulated over the Lunar New Year holiday, weekends, and holidays have resulted in a large number of cases during the weekdays.

Health authorities forecast that daily confirmed cases will reach between 130,000 and 170,000 by the end of this month.

The count as of 6 p.m. today is about 2.5 times higher than the 17,196 cases recorded at the same time one week ago on the 3rd. Compared to two weeks ago on the 27th of last month (9,094 cases), it is approximately 4.8 times higher.

Since there is still time until midnight when the count closes, the number of new confirmed cases to be announced on the 11th is expected to increase further.

Of the new confirmed cases today, 27,570 (63.4%) occurred in the metropolitan area, and 15,945 (36.6%) in non-metropolitan areas.

By city and province, the numbers are: Gyeonggi 15,273, Seoul 9,293, Incheon 3,004, Busan 2,360, Daegu 2,063, Gyeongbuk 1,895, Daejeon 1,410, Chungnam 1,410, Gwangju 1,360, Chungbuk 958, Gangwon 945, Ulsan 795, Jeonnam 790, Jeonbuk 688, Gyeongnam 526, Jeju 433, and Sejong 312.

Over the past week from the 4th, the daily new confirmed cases were 27,438 → 36,345 → 38,689 → 35,283 → 36,717 → 49,567 → 54,122, averaging about 39,737 cases per day.

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