COVID-19 New Cases Reach First 3,000 Level... 3,273 Nationwide

First Ever Over 3,000 Cases... Impact of Chuseok Holiday Travel and Contact

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] The number of new COVID-19 cases has surpassed 3,000 for the first time. During the Chuseok holiday period, new cases have surged daily, spreading nationwide.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced that as of midnight on the 25th, there were 3,273 new confirmed cases, bringing the total to 298,402. This is an increase of 842 cases compared to the previous day (2,431), setting a new daily record.

Compared to last Saturday (the 18th), when there were 2,087 cases, this is 1,186 more. The 3,000-level case count is the highest since the first confirmed case in Korea on January 20 of last year, 614 days ago.

The increase in contacts before the Chuseok holiday led to the rapid rise in confirmed cases. Especially from next week, the impact of large-scale population movement during Chuseok is expected to intensify, raising concerns about a nationwide outbreak.

The currently dominant 'Delta' variant of COVID-19 is more than twice as contagious as the original virus, and due to factors such as 'breakthrough infections,' it is difficult to predict when the fourth wave will subside.