Seoul COVID-19 Positive Rate per Tests 2.4% → 1.5%, Decreasing for Four Consecutive Days

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] The daily number of new COVID-19 cases in South Korea has remained in the 1,000s for three consecutive days, indicating a rapid spread of the virus nationwide.

As of midnight on the 18th, 1,062 new cases were reported, with Seoul accounting for 398 cases. After surpassing 400 cases for the first time the previous day, the numbers have shown little sign of decreasing.

Additionally, the average daily cases over the past week reached 883, already meeting the government’s criteria for Level 3 social distancing measures numerically.

This is why the government has designated the period until the 3rd of next month as an “intensive testing period” and set up temporary screening clinics nationwide to identify “hidden infections.”

The daily death toll from COVID-19 also exceeded 20 for the first time on the 16th, triggering an emergency response from health authorities.

In particular, due to a shortage of treatment beds, there have been cases where patients died after waiting three days for hospitalization following diagnosis. Over the past two days, five people each day have died in Seoul, bringing the total death count to 125. The fatality rate is gradually approaching 1%, currently at 0.93%.

During the past weekend (December 12?13), mobile phone movement in the metropolitan area (24.48 million instances) decreased by 32% compared to the Level 1.5 social distancing period (November 14?15), which recorded 35.89 million instances. This reduction is expected to lead to a decrease in new cases starting next week.

Since December 14, 150 additional temporary screening clinics have been established in the metropolitan area, significantly increasing the number of tests conducted and naturally leading to a rise in new confirmed cases. Fortunately, despite the large increase in testing, the positivity rate has shown a clear downward trend.

Seoul’s positivity rate relative to the number of tests decreased consecutively for four days from 2.4% to 1.5%. Considering the average rate of 2.6% over the previous two weeks, this represents a significant achievement.

The threat of COVID-19 is similar across the United States and Europe.

In California, USA, where vaccinations have begun, the daily death toll reached 163 on the 14th, a fourfold increase compared to a month earlier, prompting authorities to prepare refrigerated storage for bodies. Meanwhile, New York is expected to reimpose city lockdowns after Christmas, similar to the temporary lockdowns implemented last spring.

With COVID-19 deaths in Europe surpassing 500,000, Germany, which recorded the highest daily death toll of 925, will close all stores except supermarkets and pharmacies until January 10, and Denmark will do the same until January 3.

Additionally, after French President Macron tested positive the day before, European leaders who had contact with him, including the Prime Ministers of Portugal and Spain, have entered self-quarantine one after another.

The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasized the importance of wearing masks during family gatherings over the Christmas holidays to ensure everyone’s health and safety. Residents are urged to maintain vigilance, recognizing that anyone and their families can be infected at any time, and to make mask-wearing and social distancing routine practices.

Gangnam-gu COVID-19 Case Status

As of the 17th and 18th, cases have been confirmed up to number 780. Cases 767?772, 776?778, and 780 are family members of previously confirmed Gangnam-gu residents, while case 774 tested positive after contact with a confirmed case from another region. Cases 766, 773, 775, and 779 were confirmed after exhibiting symptoms such as fever and cough, but their infection routes are unknown and epidemiological investigations are ongoing.

Self-Quarantine Status

As of the 18th, Gangnam-gu is managing 1,849 individuals in self-quarantine, including 1,161 overseas arrivals and 688 domestic contacts.

Number of Tests Conducted

The cumulative number of tests conducted at Gangnam-gu Public Health Center’s screening clinics is 113,741. On the previous day, 2,416 tests were performed, including 74 overseas arrivals and 2,342 domestic residents.

Gangnam-gu is implementing tailored support packages for small business owners struggling due to the prolonged COVID-19 situation.

Small business owners with annual sales under 200 million KRW receive 500,000 KRW per business for public utility fees, and those with annual sales under 500 million KRW receive 1.4 million KRW in rent support in cash.

Additionally, small business owners who had to temporarily close due to visits by confirmed cases are eligible for up to 4 million KRW in store reopening support by the end of the year. Various policies such as loan interest support and operation of “Traditional Market Live Commerce” are also planned.

Meanwhile, starting from the 18th, Gangnam-gu is operating a residential treatment center in a local hotel equipped with negative pressure devices and safety facilities to accommodate asymptomatic and mild cases for treatment.

At 3 p.m. on the 18th, 30 asymptomatic patients were admitted. Dedicated public officials have been assigned and trained for thorough management.

Since the 16th, Gangnam-gu has been operating temporary screening clinics near Exit 6 of Samseong Station (Yeongdong-daero 513) and at Gaepo Digital Innovation Park (Gaepo-ro 416). So far, 1,977 tests have been completed, identifying 7 asymptomatic cases.

In preparation for the post-COVID era and to establish “Ontact Leader Gangnam,” the 2021 budget totaling 1.1278 trillion KRW was approved by the Gangnam-gu Council on this day.

In the new year of the Year of the Ox, Gangnam-gu pledges to do its utmost with sincerity and tireless dedication to suppress the spread of infectious diseases as much as possible and actively revitalize the local economy for the health and safety of its residents.