323 New COVID-19 Cases Nationwide as of 6 PM... Concerns Over Rising Trend During Seol Holiday

Possibility of Surpassing 400 Today... Signs of Resurgence Nationwide

On the first day of the Lunar New Year holiday, the 11th, citizens are waiting to be tested at a temporary COVID-19 screening clinic set up at Seoul Station Plaza. The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight on the same day, there were 504 new domestic COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 82,434. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Minwoo Lee] On the first day of the Lunar New Year holiday, new COVID-19 cases surged nationwide, showing signs of a resurgence.

According to the quarantine authorities and local governments including Seoul, from midnight to 6 p.m. on the 11th, a total of 323 new COVID-19 cases were reported. This is 70 fewer than the 393 cases reported during the same time the previous day. However, this decrease is attributed to a reduction in testing during the Lunar New Year holiday. It is expected that by midnight, when the tally is finalized, the number will rise to the high 300s or low 400s. On the previous day, an additional 111 cases were reported from 6 p.m. to midnight, pushing the total over 500.

By region, 254 cases (78.6%) were reported in the metropolitan area, and 69 cases (21.4%) in non-metropolitan areas. Seoul had the highest number with 125 cases, followed by Gyeonggi Province (88), Incheon (41), Busan (19), Chungnam (11), Daegu (9), and Chungbuk (6). Gangwon and Gyeongnam each reported 5 cases, while Gwangju and Jeju each added 4 cases. Gyeongbuk had 3 cases, and Jeonbuk, Daejeon, and Jeonnam each had 1 case. Among the 17 cities and provinces nationwide, Ulsan and Sejong have yet to report any confirmed cases.

Although the situation had somewhat stabilized at the beginning of the new year, the recent increase in cases has raised concerns about a resurgence. New cases, which had dropped to the high 200s, have rebounded to the low 500s.

From the 4th to the previous day, the daily new cases were recorded as 370 → 393 → 371 → 288 → 303 → 444 → 504, averaging 382 cases per day.

The key indicator for adjusting the 'social distancing' level, the average daily number of locally transmitted cases, stands at 351. While maintaining the Level 2 range (nationwide cases exceeding 300), this is 5 cases higher than the 346 reported the previous day.

Major infection cases include 9 additional COVID-19 cases related to the Yeongsaenggyo Church in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province. As a result, the total number of confirmed cases linked to the Yeongsaenggyo Seungri Sect and the Ojeong Ability Supplementary Academy has risen to 105. In Ilsanseo-gu, Juyop-dong, Goyang City, Gyeonggi Province, 18 new cases related to the Taepyeongyang Martial Arts Center and Donggyeong Restaurant were added, bringing the total to 46.

Additionally, new infections have continued nationwide centered around gatherings, workplaces, daycare centers, and bathhouses. Existing cluster outbreaks are also seeing additional cases, including a private gathering in Yongsan-gu, Seoul (cumulative 47 cases), Hanyang University Hospital in Seoul (95 cases), manufacturing and Islamic centers in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province (19 cases), Antioch Church in Gwangju (142 cases), and the Port Workers' Union in Seo-gu, Busan (60 cases).