The 4th COVID-19 pandemic in Korea is gaining momentum.



The number of new confirmed cases per day has been in the four-digit range of 1,000 for more than five weeks, and eventually surpassed the 2,000 line.



The government's high-intensity 'social distancing' (level 4 in the metropolitan area, phase 3 in the non-metropolitan area) and restrictions on the number of private gatherings have not been effective, and the number of patients is increasing rapidly.



In particular, the 'delta-type' mutant virus originating in India, which has stronger transmission power than the existing virus, has established itself as the dominant species in Korea.



Both quarantine authorities and infectious disease experts are expecting an increase in the number of confirmed cases.



According to the Central Quarantine Countermeasures Headquarters (Bangdaebon) today (11th), there were 1,540 new confirmed cases in Korea as of 00:00 yesterday.



It increased by 48 from the previous day (1,492) and rose again to the 1,500 level.



The number of 1,540 people is the highest as of Monday (the announcement date is Tuesday).



The previous record was 1,363 people on Monday two weeks ago (July 26th, July 27th), 177 more people than that.



If you compare the same day of the week on a weekly basis, the spread is getting stronger.



As of 00:00 today, the number of new confirmed cases far exceeds the previous record of 1,895 not only yesterday, but also on Tuesday two weeks ago (July 27, announcement date July 28).



A total of 2,021 new confirmed cases were counted from 0 am to 9 pm yesterday by the quarantine authorities and each local government including the Seoul Metropolitan Government, which has already exceeded 2,000 for the first time since the domestic Corona 19 incident.



This is 637 more than 1,384 at the same time the day before, and 456 more than the 1,565 on Tuesday (August 3) of last week.



Considering the recent night time number of patients, the number is expected to reach around 2,200.



The number of daily confirmed cases has been in the four digits for 35 consecutive days since the 7th of last month (1,212 people), and today is the 36th day.



From the 4th to today, 1,725 ​​→ 1,775 → 1,704 → 1,823 → 1,729 → 1,492 → 1,540 by day. 1,400 to 1,800 people went up and down.



While the nationwide epidemic is accelerating, the spread in non-metropolitan areas is particularly strong.



Among the routes of infection of the new confirmed cases yesterday, 1,476 local cases occurred, of which 818 (55.4%) were in the metropolitan area and 658 (44.6%) were in the non-metropolitan area.



The proportion of non-metropolitan areas (44.6%) among all local confirmed cases is the highest since the 4th pandemic.



This figure has exceeded 30% for the 24th day since the 18th of last month (31.6%), and in the last week alone, it recorded 37.7% → 40.3% → 38.3% → 38.2% → 42.1% → 39.5% → 44.6%, three times. over 40%.



In this situation, the detection rate of delta mutations is also hitting new highs every week.



In the past week (8.1-7), a total of 2,641 people were infected with the so-called four major mutant viruses originating in the UK, South Africa (South Africa), Brazil, and India in Korea, of which 2,555 were the delta mutation. accounted for 96.7% of the total.



The remaining 3.3% were 'alpha-type' mutations from England (84 patients) and 'gamma-type' mutations from Brazil (2 patients).



In addition, the detection rate of delta-type mutations confirmed through genetic analysis during the same period was 73.1%.



The detection rate of delta-type mutations has risen sharply from 48.0% to 61.5% to 73.1% in the past three weeks.



During the same period, the detection rate of delta-type mutations in the metropolitan area also rose sharply from 48.2% → 62.9% → 71.1%.



Sang-won Bang, head of the Epidemiological Investigation and Analysis Team, said at a briefing yesterday, "The number of patients who have been stagnant for a while is showing an increasing trend."