New COVID-19 Cases Remain in the High 600s for Second Day...Cumulative Vaccine Doses Reach 1.38 Million (Update)

Local Cases 652, Imported Cases 21

On the 2nd, at Mapo-gu Public Health Center in Seoul, a medical staff member is busy filling a syringe with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine ahead of vaccination for the head of a health and medical organization. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] The number of new domestic COVID-19 cases in South Korea recorded in the high 600s for the second consecutive day.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced on the 16th at midnight that 673 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed domestically, bringing the total to 112,789. Of these, 652 were locally transmitted cases, and 21 were imported cases.

By region, the Seoul metropolitan area reported 215 cases in Seoul, 216 in Gyeonggi, and 11 in Incheon. Outside the metropolitan area, many cases were reported in Busan (44), Gyeongnam (44), Ulsan (24), and Gyeongbuk (23). Other regions reported 15 in Jeonbuk, 12 in Chungnam, 10 in Gwangju, 9 in Chungbuk, 7 in Gangwon, 6 each in Daejeon and Jeonnam, and 3 each in Jeju and Sejong.

The cumulative death toll from COVID-19 increased by 2 from the previous day to 1,790. The number of critically ill patients increased by 12 to 111. The number of patients who have recovered and been released from isolation rose by 549 to 103,062.

On the same day, the number of suspected case tests was 42,207, and the number of tests conducted at temporary screening clinics in the metropolitan area was 38,656. Among these, 120 cases were confirmed positive at the metropolitan temporary screening clinics.

Meanwhile, the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team reported that as of midnight, 92,660 people received their first dose, bringing the total number of first-dose recipients to 1,379,653. Two additional people received their second dose, bringing the cumulative total to 60,571. So far, 971,984 people have received the AstraZeneca vaccine, and 407,669 have received the Pfizer vaccine.

The number of suspected adverse reactions reported after COVID-19 vaccination increased by 86 cases from the previous day, totaling 12,013. Newly reported adverse reactions included 3 suspected cases of anaphylaxis and 1 death. The rest were mild symptoms such as muscle pain and headache.