Amid the rapid spread of COVID-19 in South Korea, the number of new confirmed cases on the 29th reached the high 600s. The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight on that day, there were 680 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 121,351.
The photo shows the temporary screening clinic at Seoul Station on the same day. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] The number of new domestic COVID-19 cases has dropped below 700 in a single day. However, the weekly average of locally transmitted cases remains in the mid-600s, indicating that strict quarantine measures must continue.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) reported that as of midnight on the 29th, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases increased by 680 from the previous day to 121,351. Among the new cases, 650 were locally transmitted and 30 were imported from overseas.
Sixty-five percent of the locally transmitted cases occurred in the Seoul metropolitan area. There were 225 cases (34.6%) in Seoul, 176 cases (27.1%) in Gyeonggi, and 22 cases (3.4%) in Incheon, totaling 423 cases in the metropolitan area.
Other regions reported the following new cases: 46 in Ulsan, 39 in Busan, 38 in Gyeongnam, 27 in Gyeongbuk, 18 in Daegu, 15 in Chungnam, 12 in Gangwon, 10 in Chungbuk, 9 in Jeonbuk, 8 in Gwangju, 4 in Daejeon, and 1 in Jeju. No new cases were reported in Sejong and Jeonnam.
The weekly average of locally transmitted cases, a key indicator for adjusting social distancing levels, stood at 638.7, maintaining the 600 range for the 18th consecutive day.
There were 30 imported cases, with 11 detected during quarantine and 19 identified in the community. Among them, 14 were Korean nationals and 16 were foreigners.
The total number of tests conducted the previous day was 75,751. At temporary screening clinics set up in the metropolitan area, 34,475 tests were conducted, confirming 96 new cases. In non-metropolitan temporary screening clinics, 1,994 tests were performed, resulting in 4 confirmed cases.
The number of patients who have recovered and been released from isolation increased by 539 from the previous day to 110,787. Among hospitalized patients, the number of critically ill cases decreased by 3 to 157. The death toll rose by 4 to 1,825.
On the 28th, when COVID-19 vaccinations began for military personnel and civilian employees aged 30 and over, a Marine Corps soldier received the AZ vaccine at a vaccination center set up in the Marine Corps Headquarters gymnasium. (Photo by Marine Corps) [Image source=Yonhap News]
Meanwhile, as of midnight on the same day, 220,729 people received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, bringing the total number of first-dose recipients to 2,808,794. The government’s goal of reaching 4 million first-dose vaccinations within this month is expected to be achieved during the day.
Among these, 1,534,399 received the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine, and 1,274,395 received the Pfizer vaccine. The vaccination rate relative to the population is 5.5%.
The number of people who completed the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine increased by 20,435 from the previous day to 168,721. The second-dose vaccination rate relative to the population is 0.3%.
Reports of suspected adverse reactions increased by 433 cases, totaling 15,000. Among these, 3 deaths following AZ vaccination and 2 deaths following Pfizer vaccination were newly reported. This brings the total number of deaths after vaccination to 73, with 43 cases related to AZ and 30 to Pfizer.
Additionally, 5 new cases of suspected anaphylaxis reactions were reported. The number of severe suspected cases admitted to intensive care units due to adverse reactions also increased by 4.
The remaining 419 cases involved common post-vaccination symptoms such as muscle pain, headache, fever, chills, and nausea.
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