The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight January 26, they have confirmed 13,012 new cases of COVID-19 from the previous day. This was the first time that authorities confirmed over 10,000 cases in one day, another record high.

Among the newly confirmed cases, 12,743 were transmitted in the local community, while 269 cases entered the country from overseas. A regional analysis of cases contracted in the local community showed that 64.0% (8,154) of the cases occurred in the Seoul metropolitan area with 3,110 cases confirmed in Seoul, 4,184 in Gyeonggi, and 860 in Incheon. Authorities also confirmed 548 cases in Busan, 664 in Daegu, 392 in Gwangju, 366 in Daejeon, 142 in Ulsan, 76 in Sejong, 158 in Gangwon, 243 in Chungcheongbuk-do, 417 in Chungcheongnam-do, 293 in Jeollabuk-do, 284 in Jeollanam-do, 438 in Gyeongsangbuk-do, 531 in Gyeongsangnam-do, and 51 in Jeju.

Thirty-two more people died from COVID-19 pushing the total number of deaths up to 6,620 (fatality rate 0.87%). As of this day, 385 patients receiving in-patient treatment showed serious symptoms, seven fewer than the previous day. Since the virus was first confirmed in South Korea in January 2020, authorities have confirmed a total of 762,983 cases so far.

As of 5 p.m. the previous day, 17.8% of hospital beds for critical COVID-19 patients were occupied. Authorities have secured 2,289 beds and currently 1,882 are available. As for general hospital beds reserved for the treatment of patients with moderate symptoms, 36.2% were occupied and 11,129 of the 17,444 beds are available.

By midnight this day, 44,585,873 people (86.9% of the national population) received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, after 9,046 people received their first shots the previous day. A total of 43,849,560 people (85.5% of the population) received both doses of the vaccine after 28,855 people received their second shots on Tuesday. On January 25, 240,502 people received a third dose. So far, 25,546,791 people accounting for 50.3% of the national population (85.1% of people ages 60 and older) have received booster shots.