New COVID-19 Cases at 19,586... About 400 Fewer Than Last Week

On the 22nd, as the winter resurgence of COVID-19 continued, citizens were getting tested at the screening clinic of Yongsan-gu Public Health Center in Seoul. According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of midnight that day, the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country increased by 75,744 to 28,466,390. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced on the 19th that there were 19,586 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 (cumulative total of 31,506,490).

The number of new cases decreased by 2,111 compared to the previous day (21,797). Compared to a week ago on the 12th (19,989), it decreased by 403. However, due to the removal of indoor mask mandates and increased outdoor activities, the recent daily average number of confirmed cases remains in the high 10,000s.

Among the new confirmed cases, 50 were imported from overseas.

The number of critically ill patients currently hospitalized increased by 8 from the previous day to 144.

There were 13 new COVID-19 related deaths, bringing the cumulative total to 34,665 (fatality rate 0.11%).

Meanwhile, starting next month, as the COVID-19 crisis level is downgraded from 'Severe' to 'Alert,' COVID-19 statistics will be reported on a weekly basis.