30,882 New COVID-19 Cases Continue 'Doubling'... 261 Imported Cases (Update)

On the 15th, as the spread of COVID-19 continued, the screening clinic at Seocho-gu Public Health Center in Seoul was crowded with citizens seeking testing. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Following the BA.5 variant, which is currently driving the domestic COVID-19 outbreak, the BA.2.27 variant has also been confirmed, and the number of new confirmed cases continues to double every week in a 'doubling' trend.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 15th, as of midnight, the number of new COVID-19 confirmed cases was 38,882, bringing the total cumulative confirmed cases to 18,681,420.

Compared to 19,308 cases on the 8th, one week ago, this is double, and compared to 9,522 cases on the 1st, two weeks ago, it is 4.1 times higher. Among the new confirmed cases, 261 were imported cases.

The number of critically ill patients currently hospitalized was 65. As of midnight, the number of patients receiving home treatment was 176,280.

Of the 1,426 intensive care unit beds dedicated to critical patients, 170 were in use, resulting in an occupancy rate of 11.9%. The occupancy rates for semi-critical beds and moderate beds were 23.6% and 17.9%, respectively.

The number of COVID-19 deaths reported the previous day was 16, the same as the day before. Among the deceased, six were aged 80 or older, six were in their 70s, three were in their 60s, and one was in their 40s. The cumulative death toll to date is 24,712, with a cumulative COVID-19 fatality rate of 0.13%.

The health authorities announced that a detailed analysis of a specimen from a confirmed patient in their 60s residing in Incheon revealed the presence of the BA.2.27 variant, also known as 'Centaurus.' Although the infection route of this patient has not yet been identified, experts believe that BA.2.27 has already spread within the community, as the patient had no recent history of overseas travel.

As the government recognizes the clear resurgence of COVID-19, it plans to gradually deploy a total of about 200 quarantine support personnel at Incheon Airport and seven regional airports to strengthen quarantine management, including passenger screening. For the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak, the government will also implement quarantine measures at major tourist destinations nationwide during the summer vacation season without social distancing.

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