COVID-19 New Cases 11,400... 1,468 More Than Previous Week

On the 20th, when the mandatory mask-wearing on public transportation was lifted, most passengers were using the bus while wearing masks at the Yeouido Bus Transfer Center in Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

As of midnight on the 23rd, the Central Disease Control Headquarters reported that the cumulative number of new COVID-19 cases increased by 11,400, reaching a total of 30,739,457.

Although the number of new cases decreased by 1,681 compared to the previous day’s 13,081, it increased by 1,468 compared to the 16th, a week ago. The number of confirmed cases has been rising for three consecutive days since the 21st compared to the previous week.

The number of critically ill patients hospitalized increased by 2 to 133 compared to the previous day. The number of critically ill patients has remained in the 100s for nearly a month. The number of new COVID-19 deaths was 14, bringing the total death toll to 34,201.

Meanwhile, the additional winter vaccination campaign using the updated vaccine, which began last October, is scheduled to end on the 8th of next month. The government has decided to administer the COVID-19 vaccine once annually in the fourth quarter starting this year. Immunocompromised individuals will receive two doses annually, in the second and fourth quarters, considering their shorter antibody retention period. As of 6 p.m. the previous day, 4,740 people received new additional vaccinations, bringing the total number of vaccinated individuals to 6,583,183. The vaccination rate is 14.0% accordingly.