2146 More Than Yesterday
Surpasses All-Time Daily Record Based on Interim Tally
The first confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) Omicron variant have occurred in Seoul. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on the 7th, three foreign students attending Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Kyung Hee University, and Seoul National University were found to be infected with the Omicron variant. Hankuk University of Foreign Studies will operate facilities such as libraries, which were part of the infected students' movement paths, on a limited basis until the 11th, and all classes will be switched to online formats until the 14th. The photo shows the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies campus on that day. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@
[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] Amid the occurrence of confirmed cases of the Omicron variant virus, the nationwide number of COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 9 PM on the 7th has already surpassed the previous highest daily new case record.
According to the quarantine authorities, Seoul city, and other local governments, from midnight to 9 PM on this day, a total of 5,704 people tested positive for COVID-19 across 17 cities and provinces nationwide.
This is the largest number of confirmed cases recorded since the 9 PM interim tally. It also exceeds the previous highest daily new case record of 5,352 cases on the 4th.
This is 2,146 more than the nationwide tally of 3,558 cases at 9 PM the previous day, and 1,847 more than the 3,857 cases recorded at the same time a week ago on the 30th of last month.
With time remaining until midnight when the tally closes, the new confirmed cases announced at 0 AM on the 8th are expected to exceed 6,000, setting a new record once again. Depending on the overnight situation, there is also a possibility of recording around 7,000 cases.
The surge in confirmed cases appears to be due to the number of COVID-19 tests returning to weekday levels after the weekend and holidays.
New confirmed cases were 4,273 (74.9%) in the metropolitan area and 1,431 (25.1%) in non-metropolitan areas.
By city and province, the numbers are: Seoul 2,340, Gyeonggi 1,500, Incheon 433, Busan 240, Chungnam 202, Daejeon 159, Gangwon 136, Gyeongbuk 131, Daegu 124, Gyeongnam 123, Jeonbuk 72, Gwangju 56, Jeonnam 54, Jeju 51, Chungbuk 50, Ulsan 17, and Sejong 16.
Confirmed cases were reported in all 17 cities and provinces. Seoul also recorded the highest number ever for the same time period.
The fourth domestic wave, which began in early July, has continued for more than five months.
The number of new confirmed cases over the past week (December 1?7) were 5,122 → 5,264 → 4,944 → 5,352 → 5,126 → 4,325 → 4,954 daily, with the weekly average number of confirmed cases reaching 5,012 for the first time, surpassing the 5,000 mark. The average daily number of locally transmitted cases, excluding imported cases, is 4,984.
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