Confirmed cases exceed 50,000 by 6 PM... Could be the highest record ever (Comprehensive)

On the 11th, when the number of new COVID-19 cases remained in the 50,000 range for the second consecutive day at 53,926, citizens were receiving rapid antigen tests at the temporary screening clinic at Seoul Station. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Hyung-gil] By 6 p.m. on the weekend of the 12th, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases exceeded 50,000.

According to the quarantine authorities, Seoul city, and other local governments, from midnight to 6 p.m. on that day, 48,025 people nationwide across 17 cities and provinces were confirmed positive for COVID-19.

This is 4,510 more than the previous highest count for the same time period, recorded on the 10th with 43,515 cases.

It is also 5,087 more than the count of 42,938 cases recorded by 6 p.m. the previous day, and about 2.3 times the 21,338 cases reported a week earlier on the 5th. Compared to two weeks ago on the 29th of last month (10,665 cases), it is approximately 4.5 times higher.

Since there is still time until midnight when the count is finalized, the number of new confirmed cases to be announced on the 13th is expected to increase further.

Following the impact of the Lunar New Year holiday, a large number of cases have continued throughout this week. The quarantine authorities estimate that daily new confirmed cases could reach between 130,000 and 170,000 by the end of this month, while the National Institute for Mathematical Sciences projects that the daily maximum could reach up to 360,000 cases in early next month.

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