COVID-19 Cases Exceed '10,000'... 7,437 Confirmed by 9 PM, Record High (Summary)

Confirmed Cases Reported Across All 17 Provinces and Cities

On the 24th, when 7,513 new COVID-19 cases were reported, citizens lined up to get tested at a temporary screening clinic set up at the Sogang University Station Plaza in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jin-ho] As the COVID-19 Omicron variant becomes the dominant strain, more than 7,000 confirmed cases have been reported nationwide by 9 PM on the 24th. If this trend continues, the number of new confirmed cases as of midnight on the 25th is likely to reach between 9,000 and 10,000 for the first time ever.

According to the quarantine authorities and local governments including Seoul City, a total of 7,437 confirmed COVID-19 cases were recorded across 17 cities and provinces nationwide from midnight to 9 PM on this day.

With time remaining until midnight when the tally closes, the number of new confirmed cases announced on the 25th is expected to set a record high. The previous highest number of new confirmed cases was 7,848 on the 15th of last month.

The tally by 9 PM on this day is 1,762 cases higher than the 5,675 cases recorded at the same time the previous day. Compared to 3,334 cases recorded at the same time a week ago on the 17th, it has increased by 4,103 cases.

This is mainly attributed to Omicron becoming the dominant strain. Last week (from the 17th to the 23rd), the detection rate of the Omicron variant in Korea was 50.3%.

Of the new confirmed cases on this day, 4,524 cases (60.8%) occurred in the Seoul metropolitan area, and 2,913 cases (39.2%) occurred in non-metropolitan areas. By city and province, the numbers are: Gyeonggi 2,291, Seoul 1,590, Incheon 643, Daegu 498, Busan 322, Gwangju and Chungnam each 311, Gyeongbuk 281, Daejeon 209, Jeonnam 191, Jeonbuk 172, Gangwon 164, Gyeongnam 156, Ulsan 100, Chungbuk 98, Sejong 68, Jeju 32. Confirmed cases were reported in all 17 cities and provinces.