Another 'Record High' 1,896 Cases... Explosive Increase in Confirmed Cases in Both 수도권 and Non-수도권 Areas

On the 28th, when the highest ever record of 1,896 new COVID-19 cases was reported, citizens who visited the temporary screening clinic set up at Seoul Station Plaza were waiting to get tested. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] The number of new COVID-19 cases in South Korea reached a record high of 1,896. Amid the ongoing '4th wave,' the weekly record has been broken repeatedly: 1,378 cases on the 10th, 1,614 on the 14th, 1,842 on the 22nd, and 1,896 on the 28th.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters announced that as of midnight on the 28th, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases increased by 1,896 from the previous day to 193,427. Among the new cases, 1,823 were locally transmitted and 73 were imported. The weekly average of locally transmitted cases, a key indicator for adjusting social distancing levels, is approaching 1,500 at 1,495.

By region, 1,212 cases (66.5% of local cases) were reported in the Seoul metropolitan area. This is the first time the metropolitan area has exceeded 1,200 cases. The breakdown is Seoul 568 cases (31.2%), Gyeonggi 543 cases (29.8%), and Incheon 101 cases (5.5%). It is also the first time that local cases in Gyeonggi have surpassed 500.

Non-metropolitan areas also confirmed 611 cases, exceeding 600 for the first time since the 4th wave began. The cases were distributed as follows: Busan 99, Daegu 54, Gwangju 25, Daejeon 74, Ulsan 17, Sejong 11, Gangwon 74, Chungbuk 40, Chungnam 30, Jeonbuk 22, Jeonnam 17, Gyeongbuk 32, Gyeongnam 93, and Jeju 23.

There were 73 imported cases, with 33 detected during quarantine and 40 confirmed in the community. Among them, 28 were Korean nationals and 45 were foreigners.

The total number of tests conducted the previous day was 135,079. At temporary screening clinics in the metropolitan area, 65,737 tests were conducted, confirming 392 new cases, while 12,336 tests were conducted at non-metropolitan temporary screening clinics, confirming 66 cases.

The death toll rose by 4 to 2,083, and the number of critically ill patients increased by 17 to 286 compared to the previous day.

On the morning of the 27th, citizens are waiting for monitoring of adverse reactions after receiving vaccinations at the COVID-19 Seodaemun-gu Vaccination Center set up at Bukahyeon Culture and Sports Center in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, as of midnight on the same day, 380,756 people received new COVID-19 vaccinations. The cumulative number of first-dose vaccinations reached 17,902,938, representing a vaccination rate of 34.9% of the population. The breakdown by vaccine type is AstraZeneca (AZ) 1,102, Pfizer 237,335, and Moderna 142,319.

The number of people who completed vaccination increased by 44,580 from the previous day to 6,972,670. The second-dose vaccination rate is 13.6% of the population. Among those who received the first dose of the AZ vaccine, 2,454 received the second dose of AZ, and 2,963 received a second dose of Pfizer as a mixed vaccination. An additional 31,876 people completed vaccination with Pfizer only, bringing the total to 3,822,203. Moderna second doses were administered to 7,287 people.

Reports of suspected adverse reactions following vaccination increased by 1,809 over two days, totaling 112,688 cases. The reports include 261 for AZ, 12,338 for Pfizer, 38 for Janssen, and 277 for Moderna. The cumulative adverse reaction reporting rates are 0.67% for AZ, 0.26% for Pfizer, 0.66% for Janssen, and 0.21% for Moderna.

Among the new reports, 1,743 cases involved common post-vaccination symptoms such as muscle pain, headache, fever, chills, and nausea, accounting for the majority.

Serious adverse reactions included 12 suspected anaphylaxis cases and 53 additional reports of major neurological and other serious reactions. One death was reported following vaccination with the Pfizer vaccine.

Regarding the mixed vaccination regimen of first-dose AZ and second-dose Pfizer underway this month, 233 additional adverse reaction cases were reported over two days, bringing the cumulative total to 2,397. The adverse reaction reporting rate for this regimen is 0.27%. Among these, 230 were general adverse reactions, 1 suspected anaphylaxis, and 2 major neurological or other serious reactions. No deaths were reported. Adverse reactions from mixed vaccinations are included in the Pfizer vaccine adverse reaction statistics.