[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] As the COVID-19 Omicron variant rapidly spreads, the number of new domestic cases recorded a figure in the 7,000s for the second consecutive day on the 23rd.
The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight on this day, there were 7,630 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total cumulative cases to 733,902. This is an increase of 622 cases from the previous day's 7,008, rising to the mid-7,000s. This is the second highest number ever recorded, following the 7,848 cases reported on the 15th of last month.
Usually, the number of new cases tends to be lower on holidays due to reduced testing over the weekend, but this was not the case on this day. It is analyzed that the spread of Omicron is causing a clear upward trend regardless of the day of the week.
The number of critically ill patients was 431, down by 2 from the previous day (433), marking four consecutive days with figures in the 400s. The death toll increased by 11, bringing the cumulative total to 6,540. The number of daily deaths falling to the teens is the first time in 69 days since November 15 of last year. The cumulative fatality rate stood at 0.89%.
Regarding the infection routes of new cases, 7,343 were locally transmitted and 287 were imported. Among the locally transmitted cases, Gyeonggi had 2,667, Seoul 1,634, and Incheon 589, with 4,890 cases (66.6%) coming from the metropolitan area.
Outside the metropolitan area, there were 448 cases in Daegu, 306 in Gwangju, 287 in Busan, 213 in Gyeongnam, 207 in Gyeongbuk, 197 in Chungnam, 191 in Jeonnam, 151 in Daejeon, 136 in Jeonbuk, 108 in Chungbuk, 84 in Ulsan, 79 in Gangwon, and 23 each in Sejong and Jeju, totaling 2,453 cases (33.4%).
Combining local and imported cases (excluding quarantine), the total new cases were 2,713 in Gyeonggi, 1,694 in Seoul, and 610 in Incheon, with 517 cases in the metropolitan area alone. Imported cases numbered 287, an increase of 7 from the previous day's 280.
The domestic COVID-19 vaccination completion rate (percentage of those who have completed the primary series) was 85.4% (a cumulative total of 43,801,851 people) as of midnight on this day. The third dose vaccination rate reached 49.2% of the total population (a cumulative total of 25,232,604 people).
In response to new cases exceeding 7,000 for two consecutive days, the government plans to shift the COVID-19 prevention system to the 'Omicron response phase.' The current 10-day quarantine period for vaccinated individuals will be shortened to 7 days nationwide starting from the 26th.
Additionally, in four regions where the Omicron variant has already become dominant?Gwangju, Jeonnam, Pyeongtaek, and Anseong?starting from the 26th, COVID-19 PCR testing will be limited to high-risk groups such as close contacts and elderly individuals aged 60 and above as a preemptive measure.
The government will monitor the situation following these preemptive measures and decide on the timing for a full transition to the Omicron prevention system.
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