New Cases 2,289 'Highest Monday Count'... 8 Additional Deaths

1678 Cases in the Seoul Metropolitan Area... 73.9% of Total Confirmed Cases

On the morning of the 28th, at Dongsung High School in Jongno-gu, Seoul, where a 'Rapid Self Molecular Diagnostic Gene Amplification (Rapid PCR)' testing site was set up, medical staff transferred specimens collected from students to a mobile testing room located right next to the testing site to check for COVID-19 infection. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education expanded the 'Educational Facility Mobile Specimen Collection Team' from one team to more than four teams and designated the period until the 6th of next month as an 'Intensive Multi-layered Quarantine Period,' including a pilot operation of rapid PCR testing at five dormitory-operated schools. Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] On the 28th, the number of new COVID-19 cases in South Korea reached 2,289. Following the Chuseok holiday, the number of confirmed cases surged, breaking the highest record based on the day of the week once again.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of midnight on that day, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases increased by 2,289 from the previous day, totaling 305,842. In terms of infection routes, 2,270 cases were locally transmitted, and 19 were imported from overseas.

In the metropolitan area, local cases were recorded as 837 in Seoul, 718 in Gyeonggi, and 123 in Incheon, totaling 1,678. The metropolitan area accounted for 73.9% of all confirmed cases. Among non-metropolitan regions, Daegu had the highest number of new cases with 126, followed by Gyeongbuk with 73, Gyeongnam with 63, Chungbuk with 59, Daejeon with 54, Chungnam with 46, Jeonbuk with 42, Busan with 29, Gwangju with 28, Jeonnam with 18, Ulsan with 17, Jeju with 7, and Sejong with 4.

The total number of tests conducted in one day exceeded 210,000. At temporary screening clinics set up in the metropolitan area, 133,290 tests were conducted, confirming 398 positive cases, while 17,374 tests were conducted at non-metropolitan temporary screening clinics, confirming 52 positive cases.

The number of critically ill patients increased by 5 from the previous day to 324. The cumulative death toll rose by 8 to 2,464.

Meanwhile, according to the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team, 416,626 people newly received their first vaccine dose the previous day. The cumulative number of first-dose recipients reached 38,511,292. The first-dose vaccination rate reached 75%. Based on adults aged 18 and over, for whom vaccination is recommended, the rate reached 87.2%. A total of 711,698 people newly completed vaccination, bringing the overall vaccination completion rate to 46.6% of the total population.