COVID-19, 320,743 New Cases... Cumulative Cases Exceed 13 Million

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] As the domestic Omicron surge enters a gradual decline, the number of new confirmed cases on the 31st decreased by about 100,000 compared to the previous day’s announcement, recording just over 300,000. The cumulative confirmed cases have surpassed 13 million, indicating that one in four citizens has experienced a COVID-19 infection.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters reported that as of midnight on this day, 320,743 new confirmed cases were added, bringing the total to 13,095,631. This is a decrease of 103,898 from the previous day’s figure of 424,641, dropping back into the 300,000 range within a day. Compared to a week ago on the 24th (395,532 cases), it is 74,789 fewer, and compared to two weeks ago on the 17th when the highest number of cases was recorded (621,188 cases), it has decreased by 300,445.

The government believes that the Omicron wave, which rapidly spread from early January, has passed its peak after 11 weeks and is now gradually declining. With cumulative confirmed cases exceeding 13 million in 801 days since the first domestic COVID-19 case, the infection rate relative to the population has risen to 25.5%.

However, the number of critically ill patients and deaths is still heading toward a peak. The number of critically ill patients recorded on this day was 1,315, breaking the previous record of 1,301 from the day before. The number of critically ill patients, which had remained in the 1,200 range for three consecutive days since the 27th (1,216), rose to the 1,300 range starting the previous day. Since the 8th (1,007), the number of critically ill patients has remained in the four-digit 1,000 range for 24 consecutive days. The cumulative death toll stands at 16,230, with a cumulative fatality rate of 0.12%.

The government held an in-person meeting of the Daily Life Recovery Support Committee on this day to coordinate measures to ease social distancing. From the 4th of next month, private gatherings will be allowed up to 10 people, and operating hours for restaurants and cafes are expected to be extended until midnight.

Regarding the infection routes of new confirmed cases, 320,719 were locally transmitted and 24 were imported from overseas. Among the locally transmitted cases, 84,657 were in Gyeonggi, 60,131 in Seoul, and 18,128 in Incheon, with the metropolitan area accounting for 162,916 cases (50.8%). Including imported cases, the number of confirmed cases by region is as follows: Gyeonggi 84,657, Seoul 60,131, Gyeongnam 19,315, Incheon 18,128, Gyeongbuk 14,691, Chungnam 14,364, Jeonnam 13,707, Busan 13,053, Daegu 12,712, Gwangju 11,362, Chungbuk 11,322, Jeonbuk 11,295, Gangwon 10,665, Daejeon 10,058, Ulsan 6,307, Jeju 5,074, and Sejong 3,892.

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