The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread in Asia, with new daily case counts remaining above 100 in China and over 400 in South Korea, while India has surpassed 15,000 cases.
According to a statement from the National Health Commission of China, authorities recorded 144 new COVID-19 cases on the mainland in the past 24 hours, 18 of which were imported from abroad. No deaths were reported in this period. Among locally transmitted cases, 68 were reported in Heilongjiang, 33 in Jilin, 20 in Hubei, and two in Shaanxi provinces. Two further cases were identified in the capital, Beijing.
To date, China has recorded 88,701 confirmed cases within its borders and 4,635 deaths attributed to the outbreak. A total of 82,468 patients have recovered and been discharged after receiving treatment.
Which Regions Are Seeing More Cases
Recent infections have clustered in the country’s colder northeastern regions, particularly in provinces closest to the Russian border. Authorities are taking particular care to control the resurgence of cases ahead of the Chinese New Year, which begins on February 12 according to the lunar calendar. Officials warn that traditional New Year gatherings and celebrations could drive a renewed rise in infections, and they urge people to avoid unnecessary contact.
How Will the Holiday Affect Spread?
During the Spring Festival, many sectors of the economy observe a holiday and travel increases sharply as people visit family. This surge in movement is a major concern for health officials, who emphasize that preventing further cases remains the top priority. People planning to travel domestically are now required to present a negative COVID-19 test taken within the week prior to travel. Several provincial administrations have also announced quarantine measures for incoming travelers.
National health authorities advise citizens not to travel unless absolutely necessary. The Spring Festival prompts many migrant workers in urban areas to return to their hometowns and rural villages, which raises the risk of wider transmission. Officials estimate that as many as 1.7 billion individual journeys could take place during the holiday period, heightening fears of renewed spread.
Quarantine Period Extended
In Beijing, officials announced that the mandatory quarantine period for arrivals from abroad will be doubled from 14 to 28 days. Travelers will also be required to self-isolate at home for an additional seven days following the centralized quarantine. During the subsequent seven-day period, authorities will conduct health checks. While individuals under this monitoring phase may continue routine activities, they are advised not to gather with others. Beijing plans to closely monitor these health checks.
Situation in South Korea
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency reported 401 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, of which 31 were imported and the remainder locally transmitted. This brings South Korea’s cumulative case total to 73,918. The country recorded 16 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Total fatalities in South Korea have risen to 1,316. So far, 60,846 people who contracted the virus have recovered after treatment.
Authorities in and around the capital Seoul have implemented a new “level 2.5” social distancing scheme, which includes stepped-up restrictions and is scheduled to remain in effect through January 31. Officials said the stricter measures aim to avoid a return to the peak seen on December 25, when daily cases reached 1,240. After a period of roughly 500 daily cases last week, numbers had briefly fallen below 400 for two days thanks to intensified measures, but confirmed cases rose again to 404 in the most recent reporting.