Global Cumulative Cases Near 40 Million... Domestic Cases Exceed 25,000 (Comprehensive)

Medical staff in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China, are collecting samples from citizens for testing of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). (Qingdao AFP=Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The total number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) worldwide is approaching 40 million. Recently, with a sharp increase in new cases mainly in the United States and Europe, the third COVID-19 pandemic in the fall and winter seasons is becoming a reality. The cumulative number of confirmed cases in South Korea has also surpassed 25,000.

According to the international statistics site Worldometer, as of 10 a.m. on the 16th (1 a.m. GMT on the 16th), the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide is 39,151,155. With new cases occurring at a rate of 300,000 to 400,000 per day recently, the total is expected to exceed 40 million as early as this weekend. The global cumulative confirmed cases increased by nearly 10 million again within a month after surpassing 30 million on the 17th of last month.

On this day, the United States and India, ranked first and second in cumulative cases, each reported more than 60,000 new cases, and Brazil also approached 30,000 (29,498 cases). The situation in Europe, where temperatures have become chilly, is not good either. France reported 30,621 new cases, the United Kingdom 18,980, Spain 13,318, Italy 8,804, and Germany 7,074.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of midnight on this day, South Korea reported 47 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 41 domestic infections and 6 imported cases. The cumulative number of confirmed cases reached 25,035, surpassing 25,000 for the first time in 270 days since the first patient was reported in the country on January 20. It increased by 5,000 again in one and a half months after exceeding 20,000 on the 1st of last month.

The number of new confirmed cases in South Korea fell below 50 for the first time in 17 days since the 29th of last month (38 cases). However, 53 people were infected in a cluster at a nursing hospital in Busan recently, and additional patients numbering around 100 have emerged until recently, so the situation cannot be considered safe. With the autumn foliage season, the possibility of increased outdoor activities such as hiking or outings is also high.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun emphasized at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting held at Busan City Hall on the morning of this day, "Wherever people gather even a little, COVID-19 can spread like a poisonous mushroom," and added, "The war against COVID-19 is ongoing."