New COVID-19 Cases in the 100,000s... Clear Decline in Coronavirus Trend

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jaehee] As the number of domestic Omicron cases shows a clear decline, the number of new COVID-19 cases dropped to the 100,000 range on the 16th.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight on this day, 107,916 new cases were added, bringing the total to 16,212,751.

The number of new cases decreased by 17,930 compared to 125,846 the previous day.

Compared to 185,536 cases a week ago on the 9th, it is 77,620 fewer, and compared to 264,145 cases two weeks ago on the 2nd, it decreased by as many as 156,229.

This is the first time in seven weeks since February 26 (166,195 cases) that the number of new cases announced on a Saturday (counted as Friday) has been in the 100,000 range.

As the number of new cases decreases, the number of critically ill patients is also showing a downward trend.

On this day, the number of critically ill patients was 913, down 86 from the previous day (999), marking three consecutive days in the triple digits.

The number of critically ill patients had maintained four digits for 37 consecutive days since the 8th of last month (1,007). After peaking at 1,315 on the 31st of last month, it gradually decreased and fell below 1,000 from the 14th.

The nationwide severe bed occupancy rate also decreased, recorded at 48.5% (1,369 out of 2,825 beds in use) as of midnight on this day. Following 49.9% the previous day, it remained in the 40% range for two consecutive days.

The occupancy rate of semi-critical beds, which treat patients who have improved from severe conditions or are at high risk of worsening to severe, was recorded at 52.6%.

The number of home treatment patients staying at home without hospitalization was 867,926, down 39,416 from 907,342 the previous day.

The intensive management group receiving health monitoring from home treatment management medical institutions numbered 74,517, while the rest are the general management group managing their health independently at home.

The number of deaths from COVID-19 reported the previous day was 273, an increase of 9 from 264 the day before. The recent six-day death tolls were 258-171-184-318-264-273.

By age group, among the deaths reported the previous day, those aged 80 and over accounted for the largest number at 174 (63.74%), followed by 53 in their 70s, 29 in their 60s, 14 in their 50s, and 3 in their 40s.

The cumulative death toll is 20,889, and the cumulative COVID-19 fatality rate is 0.13%.

The government has judged that the COVID-19 outbreak is maintaining a downward trend and the medical system has stabilized, deciding to fully lift social distancing measures from the 18th.

Restrictions on the number of private gatherings and business hours will all be removed, but the mask-wearing mandate will remain.

From the 25th, restrictions on eating and drinking inside movie theaters and religious facilities will also be lifted. The current Level 1 classification of COVID-19 as an infectious disease will be adjusted to Level 2 starting on the 25th.

Regarding the infection routes of the newly confirmed cases announced on this day, 107,886 were locally transmitted and 30 were imported cases.

Among locally transmitted cases, 27,480 were in Gyeonggi, 18,118 in Seoul, and 5,606 in Incheon, with 51,204 cases (47.5%) coming from the metropolitan area alone.

Including imported cases, the number of confirmed cases by region were: Gyeonggi 27,480, Seoul 18,118, Gyeongnam 6,351, Gyeongbuk 6,152, Incheon 5,606, Chungnam 5,274, Jeonnam 4,968, Daegu 4,703, Jeonbuk 4,569, Chungbuk 4,149, Gwangju 4,092, Gangwon 3,963, Busan 3,913, Daejeon 3,836, Ulsan 2,147, Jeju 1,619, and Sejong 946.

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