COVID-19 New Cases 40,266... Exceed 40,000 for the First Time in 63 Days (Update)

398 Overseas Inflows, Second Highest Ever
Clear Doubling Phenomenon... Government Announces Measures for Recurrent Outbreak

Citizens who visited the screening clinic set up at Mapo-gu Public Health Center in Seoul are lining up to get tested. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The number of new COVID-19 cases has risen to the 40,000 range for the first time in over two months. The resurgence is spreading faster than expected, with a clear 'doubling' phenomenon where cases double every week.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 12th, as of midnight, the number of new COVID-19 cases was 40,266, bringing the total cumulative cases to 18,062,109.

This is the first time in 63 days since May 11, when cases reached 43,908, that the number has returned to the 40,000 range. On Wednesdays, the number of cases nearly doubled from 10,454 last month to 19,363 on the 6th of this month, and then increased by about 2.1 times again on this day.

Notably, among the new cases, 398 were imported cases, the second highest ever after January 14 this year (406 cases). This is an increase of 138 cases compared to the previous day (260 cases).

The number of critically ill patients currently hospitalized is 67. The number of critically ill patients had been maintained in the 50-60 range until last week, then increased to 71 on the 11th and 74 the day before, before slightly decreasing on this day.

Of the 1,466 intensive care unit beds, 146 are in use, resulting in an occupancy rate of 10.0%. The occupancy rates for semi-critical beds and moderate beds are 19.8% and 15.6%, respectively.

The number of COVID-19 deaths reported the previous day was 12, an increase of 5 from the day before. The cumulative death toll to date is 24,680, with a cumulative fatality rate of 0.13%.

As the resurgence pattern intensifies, the government will announce COVID-19 resurgence prevention and medical response measures based on the results of the Infectious Disease Crisis Response Advisory Committee meeting composed of private experts held on this day.

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