COVID-19 New Cases Yesterday 631... Back to 600s, 599 Local Infections

by Yoo Byeongdon

Published 06 Dec.2020 09:43(KST)

On the 4th, as 629 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported, marking the first time in nine months that the number exceeded 600, citizens visiting the screening clinic set up at Yongsan-gu Public Health Center in Seoul are waiting for their tests. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced on the 6th at midnight that the number of new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in South Korea increased by 631, bringing the total to 37,546.

This is an increase of 48 cases compared to the previous day (583 cases), marking a return to the 600s after two days. It has been just one day since the number dropped to the 500s.

The 631 cases represent the highest number since the current '3rd wave' of infections, ranking as the third largest in history after 909 cases on February 29 and 686 cases on March 2 during the peak of the '1st wave.'

Regarding the infection routes of the new confirmed cases, 599 were locally transmitted, and 32 were imported from overseas.

The number of locally transmitted cases increased by 40 compared to the previous day (559 cases).

Until early last month, the number of confirmed cases remained around 100, but from mid-month, it rose to the 200s, then to the 300s, 400s, 500s, and surged to the 600s, indicating a rapid spread.

Since the first 300 cases appeared on the 19th of last month, the daily new confirmed cases over the past 18 days have been 325 → 348 → 386 → 330 → 271 → 349 → 382 → 581 → 555 → 503 → 450 → 438 → 451 → 511 → 540 → 629 → 583 → 631, with all but one day exceeding 300 cases. Among these, there were three days in the 400s, six days in the 500s, and two days in the 600s.

The number of triple-digit cases exceeding 100 has continued for 29 consecutive days from the 8th of last month to the present, lasting about a month.