"Over 5,000 Cases, Highest Ever" Foreign Media Also Focus on Korea's New COVID-19 Surge

Office workers are walking for lunch on the streets of Myeongdong, Seoul. The photo is not directly related to any specific expressions in the article. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] One month after the phased recovery of daily life (With Corona) was implemented, the number of new COVID-19 cases in South Korea has surpassed 5,000, setting a record high, as foreign media outlets reported related news.

On the 1st, the US CNN cited the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) and reported that the daily number of confirmed cases in South Korea reached 5,123 the previous day, breaking the record. In particular, 4,110 cases were confirmed in the metropolitan area, with 34 daily deaths and 723 critically ill patients reported.

It also reported that as of the 1st, 82.9% of South Korea's population had received at least one dose of the vaccine.

The Associated Press (AP) also reported, "Due to a surge in new cases driven by the Delta variant in South Korea, the daily number of confirmed cases exceeded 5,000 for the first time since the pandemic," adding, "Health experts are calling for the reimplementation of social distancing regulations to mitigate the economic impact."

It continued, "The KDCA is conducting tests on two suspected Omicron cases," and explained, "South Korean health authorities are working to accelerate vaccination efforts and have managed hospital capacity by sharing resources between the metropolitan area and regions with small-scale outbreaks to avoid overwhelming the healthcare system."

Additionally, Japan's public broadcaster NHK reported, "The daily number of infections in South Korea has exceeded 5,000 for the first time, and the spread of infection continues."

NHK stated, "The usage rate of severe patient beds in Seoul, the capital where infections are concentrated, has exceeded 90%, putting pressure on the healthcare system," and added, "Although South Korea's vaccination rate has surpassed 80%, since restrictions were eased in November, people's movement has increased, and there are concerns about rising infections among elderly people who completed vaccination early and unvaccinated children."

The US Washington Post (WP) and Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) also cited the AP and reported on South Korea's record high daily confirmed cases.

Meanwhile, as of midnight on the 1st, the number of new COVID-19 cases in South Korea was counted at 5,123. This is the first time the number of new confirmed cases has exceeded 5,000. The previous record was 4,115 cases on November 24. The number of critically ill patients reached 723, setting a record high as well. This is also the first time the number has exceeded 700.