On the 26th, as 99,327 new COVID-19 cases were reported, approaching 100,000 for the first time in three months, citizens visiting the screening clinic set up at Mapo-gu Public Health Center in Seoul were waiting to get tested. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@
[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Eun-mo] As the COVID-19 resurgence continues, more than 100,000 new confirmed cases were reported nationwide by 9 p.m. on the 1st.
According to Seoul Metropolitan Government and other local governments, from midnight to 9 p.m. on this day, 106,367 people across 17 cities and provinces nationwide were confirmed positive for COVID-19. This is the first time in 104 days since April 19 (107,923 cases) that the number of new confirmed cases exceeded 100,000 in the interim tally as of 9 p.m. Compared to the previous day’s tally at the same time (42,883 cases), it increased by 63,484 cases, which is 2.48 times higher. The number of new COVID-19 cases tends to rebound in Tuesday’s announcement as the number of diagnostic tests, which decreased over the weekend, increases on Monday, and this pattern appears to be reflected here.
As of 9 p.m. on this day, the number of new confirmed cases was 1.13 times that of a week ago on the 25th (94,213 cases) and 1.51 times that of two weeks ago on the 18th (70,497 cases). Although the 'doubling' phenomenon, where the number of new confirmed cases nearly doubled within a week, continued in early to mid-this month, the multiplier compared to the previous week has gradually decreased, approaching 1. Since there is still time until midnight when the tally closes, the number of new confirmed cases announced on the 2nd is expected to increase further, reaching around 110,000.
In the interim tally as of 9 p.m., 60,332 cases (56.7%) were reported in the metropolitan area and 46,035 cases (43.3%) in non-metropolitan areas. By region, Gyeonggi had 30,014 cases, Seoul 24,615, Gyeongnam 6,002, Incheon 5,703, Gyeongbuk 4,404, Chungnam 4,343, Daejeon 4,166, Daegu 4,112, Jeonbuk 3,652, Chungbuk 3,323, Gangwon 3,121, Busan 2,899, Gwangju 2,635, Ulsan 2,540, Jeonnam 2,334, Jeju 1,494, and Sejong 1,010. From the 26th of last month to this day, the number of new confirmed cases over the week was 99,252 → 100,252 → 88,374 → 85,320 → 82,002 → 73,589 → 44,689, averaging 81,925 cases per day.
The government stopped phone monitoring on this day for high-risk groups among home treatment confirmed cases aged 60 and over and immunocompromised individuals. Starting from the 2nd, to encourage diagnostic testing for those at risk of infection, health insurance will be applied to rapid antigen tests for asymptomatic individuals who had contact with confirmed cases. If patients receive a professional rapid antigen test after a basic medical examination by a doctor at respiratory patient treatment centers, they will only pay a co-payment of 5,000 KRW (based on clinics) as the consultation fee.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
