1-Week Average of 384 Confirmed Cases... All Regions Outside the Capital Area Below Level 2 Criteria (Update)

On the 24th, when the domestic situation of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is showing a gradual decline, medical staff are collecting specimens at a temporary screening clinic set up at Seoul Station Plaza. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] The number of domestically transmitted confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) nationwide has fallen below 400 for the first time since the start of the third wave, which is the threshold for raising social distancing to level 2.5. By region, all areas except the metropolitan area showed numbers below the level 2 criteria.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 25th, the daily average number of domestically transmitted confirmed cases during the third week of January (17?23) was recorded at 384, a 25.6% decrease compared to the previous week. Including 26.9 imported cases, the total average number of confirmed cases was 410.9.

This is the first time since the start of the third wave that the average number of domestic confirmed cases has fallen below the level 2.5 threshold of "400 or more confirmed cases nationwide." This figure has continued to decline from 1016.9 in the 52nd week of last year (December 20?26) to 930.3 → 738.0 → 516.1.

By region, all areas showed a decreasing trend. In particular, except for the metropolitan area, which still exceeds the level 2 threshold of 200 cases with 264.9 cases, all other regions have fallen below the level 2 criteria in terms of average confirmed cases.

However, infections due to contact with prior confirmed cases and cluster infections are still ongoing. According to the infection route investigation by the Central Disease Control Headquarters, contact with prior confirmed cases accounted for 1,285 cases, or 44.7%, and cluster outbreaks accounted for 16.1% (462 cases). Other cases include hospitals and nursing facilities at 7.3% (211 cases), imported cases at 6.5% (188 cases), and cases under investigation at 25.1% (722 cases).

There were a total of 13 new cluster outbreaks. These include 4 workplaces, 2 multi-use facilities, 2 hospitals/nursing facilities, 1 family/friend gathering, 1 religious facility, and 3 others.

The number of critically ill patients and deaths is showing a decreasing trend. However, the Central Disease Control Headquarters anticipates that critically ill patients and deaths may continue because the proportion of elderly patients aged 60 and over, who have a high fatality rate among isolated and critically ill patients, remains high. In particular, among 735 confirmed cases aged 80 and over in isolation, 67 (22.6%) are critically ill, which is still a significant number.