Despite Weekend Testing Decline, 416 New COVID-19 Cases Confirmed... Positivity Rate at 1.96% (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] As the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the number of new confirmed cases on the 7th recorded in the early 400s. Although it slightly decreased compared to the previous day, it remained in the 400s for the second consecutive day.

Recently, the number of new confirmed cases has fluctuated between 300 and 400 for over two weeks, but small-scale cluster infections that are difficult for authorities to trace, such as family and acquaintance gatherings and workplaces, have been occurring frequently across various locations. In particular, while the number of tests usually decreases on weekends leading to fewer confirmed cases, the number of cases this weekend was similar to that of weekdays, prompting health authorities to closely monitor the trend.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight on this day, 416 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed, bringing the total to 92,471. This is 2 fewer than the previous day (418 cases). The third wave, which began in earnest in mid-November last year, has continued for nearly four months. New cases had been gradually decreasing this year but surged to the 600s immediately after the Lunar New Year holiday (February 11?14) due to cluster infections, and recently have somewhat declined to the 300?400 range.

In the past week (March 1?7), the daily new confirmed cases were 355 → 344 → 444 → 424 → 398 → 418 → 416. During this period, the number of cases was in the 300s three times and in the 400s four times. Looking at the infection routes of the new cases on this day, 399 were locally transmitted and 17 were imported.

By region, the metropolitan area accounted for 323 cases, with Seoul at 127, Gyeonggi at 169, and Incheon at 27, making up 81.0% of all local transmissions. Non-metropolitan areas reported a total of 76 cases: Gyeongbuk 11, Gangwon 10, Daegu and Chungbuk 8 each, Busan, Chungnam, and Jeonnam 6 each, Jeonbuk 5, Gwangju and Jeju 4 each, Gyeongnam 3, Ulsan and Sejong 2 each, and Daejeon 1.

Major new cluster infections include private gatherings such as a family and acquaintance meeting in Michuhol-gu, Incheon (cumulative 10 cases), acquaintance meetings in Pocheon-si (10 cases) and Gunpo-si (11 cases) in Gyeonggi Province. Additionally, 18 people related to a glass manufacturing company in Eumseong-gun, Chungbuk, tested positive. In Jeju, small-scale infections occurred at multi-use facilities, including 6 cases linked to a pub in Jeju-si and 8 cases related to a bowling alley. Furthermore, in Dongducheon-si, Gyeonggi Province, 18 additional cases were confirmed through proactive testing targeting foreigners in the area, increasing the cumulative total to 132 cases.

There were 17 imported cases, 3 more than the previous day (14). Among them, 5 were identified during quarantine inspections at airports or ports. The remaining 12 tested positive while in self-quarantine at their residences or temporary living facilities in Seoul (5), Gyeonggi (3), Gyeongbuk (2), Incheon, and Chungbuk (1 each). The countries of origin are estimated to be the United States and Russia (4 each), Indonesia (3), Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Poland, Czech Republic, Canada, and Ghana (1 each). Among the confirmed cases, 6 were Korean nationals and 11 were foreigners.

Combining local transmissions and imported cases (excluding quarantine), the metropolitan area reported 332 cases: Seoul 132, Gyeonggi 172, and Incheon 28. New cases were reported in all 17 cities and provinces. The death toll increased by 2 from the previous day, reaching a total of 1,634. The domestic average fatality rate stands at 1.77%. The number of critically ill patients totaled 134, 2 fewer than the previous day.

The number of recovered patients released from isolation increased by 307 on this day, totaling 83,220, while the number of patients currently under isolation treatment rose by 107 to 7,617. The total number of COVID-19 diagnostic tests conducted domestically is 6,843,126, of which 6,684,259 tested negative, and 66,396 are awaiting results.

The number of tests conducted through screening clinics on the previous day was 21,183, which is 11,749 fewer than the 32,932 tests conducted the day before. The positivity rate, calculated by dividing confirmed cases by the number of tests, was 1.96% (416 out of 21,183), up from 1.27% (418 out of 32,932) the previous day. The cumulative positivity rate as of midnight on this day is 1.35% (92,471 out of 6,843,126).