COVID-19 New Cases Again in the '7000s'... Omicron Infections Also Surge to 22 (Update)

On the 9th, as the spread of COVID-19 continues, citizens are waiting to be tested at the testing center set up in the outdoor space on the west side of the basement level 1 of Terminal 2 at Incheon International Airport. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] The number of new COVID-19 cases has remained in the 7,000 range for two consecutive days. The number of critically ill patients reached the mid-800s again, setting a new record, and the number of infections with the new Omicron variant increased by 22, bringing the total to 60.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight on the 8th, there were 7,102 new confirmed cases, bringing the cumulative total to 496,584. The daily number of confirmed cases recorded on this day is the second highest ever, following 7,175 cases the previous day.

The number of new confirmed cases has shown a sharp increase since the implementation of the "gradual recovery of daily life" on the 1st of last month, which relaxed quarantine measures. Looking at the trend, the number first entered the 4,000 range on the 24th of last month with 4,115 cases, and a week later, on the 1st, it recorded the first 5,000 range with 5,122 cases. After maintaining the high 4,000s, it skipped the 6,000 range yesterday and jumped straight to over 7,000.

The number of critically ill patients also reached a record high of 857 on this day. This is an increase of 17 from the previous record of 840 set the day before.

The number of deaths due to COVID-19 increased by 57, bringing the total to 4,077.

The number of people infected with the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 increased by 22, bringing the total to 60. Among the new confirmed cases, 6 were imported cases and 16 were domestic infections. This is the first time that more than 20 infections have been confirmed in a single day.

Among the 6 imported cases, 3 were arrivals from the Republic of South Africa, 2 from Mozambique, and 1 from Ethiopia.

As of midnight the previous day, the Central Disease Control Headquarters classified a total of 56 people (38 infected and 18 suspected) as epidemiologically related to Omicron. Most of the confirmed and suspected domestic Omicron variant cases identified up to the previous day are related to a church in Michuhol-gu, Incheon.

The Omicron variant, which spread starting from a pastor couple belonging to this church, has now reached the fifth generation of infection. In particular, a significant number of confirmed church members are unvaccinated, raising concerns about a large-scale cluster infection.

Meanwhile, the domestic COVID-19 vaccination completion rate as of midnight on this day was 80.8% (a cumulative total of 41,509,745 people), and the first dose vaccination rate was 83.4% of the total population (a cumulative total of 42,822,222 people). The additional booster vaccination rate was 9.4% of the total population (4,843,497 people).