Tomorrow's New COVID-19 Cases Expected in the 400s... Decision on Social Distancing Level Upgrade (Comprehensive)

Citizens are undergoing diagnostic tests at a temporary screening clinic for the novel coronavirus infection. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Jo] From midnight to 6 p.m. on the 28th, 336 new domestic cases of COVID-19 were reported. This is 47 fewer than the 383 cases recorded at the same time the previous day.

Since there is still time until midnight when the tally closes, the number of new cases announced at midnight on the 29th is expected to increase to the 400s. Typically, fewer tests are conducted on weekends, leading to a decrease in new cases compared to weekdays.

Of the 336 cases reported in the interim tally by city and province, 210 were in the metropolitan area and 126 in non-metropolitan areas. By region, there were 129 in Seoul, 71 in Gyeonggi, 25 in Busan, 19 in Jeonnam, 17 in Chungbuk, 13 in Gyeongnam, 12 each in Gangwon and Jeonbuk, 10 each in Incheon and Chungnam, 5 each in Gwangju and Gyeongbuk, 4 in Daejeon, 3 in Sejong, and 1 in Daegu. No additional cases were reported in Ulsan and Jeju by 6 p.m.

Since the 26th, daily new cases have been 581 → 555 → 504 for three consecutive days in the 500s, with domestic cases among them being 552 → 525 → 486. Over the past week (November 22?28), the average daily domestic cases were 400.1, placing the country in the 'social distancing' level 2.5 phase nationwide (400?500 cases or rapid increases such as 'doubling').

This third wave of COVID-19 began in the metropolitan area, but recently, the increase in non-metropolitan areas has also been significant. Non-metropolitan cases have surged over the past five days (103 → 108 → 151 → 188 → 163), maintaining numbers in the 100s, with a weekly daily average of 120.7.

The government plans to make a final decision on whether to raise the social distancing level at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on the 29th. Im Sook-young, the head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters' situation management team, said at the regular COVID-19 briefing that "many discussions are ongoing within the government, and the final decision will be made tomorrow at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters." Currently, among metropolitan governments, the metropolitan area is implementing level 2 distancing, while Honam and Gyeongnam regions are at level 1.5.

Level 2.5 is the stage when nationwide spread intensifies, and quarantine measures are further strengthened. For example, among the nine types of high-risk facilities, in addition to five types of entertainment venues, direct sales promotion centers such as door-to-door sales, karaoke rooms, and indoor standing concert halls will be closed. Cafes and restaurants will follow the same measures as level 2: cafes will only offer takeout regardless of business hours, and restaurants can operate normally until evening but only allow takeout and delivery after 9 p.m.

Additionally, among the 14 types of general management facilities, the number of people allowed at weddings and funerals will be limited to fewer than 50. PC rooms, movie theaters, arcades and multi-rooms, academies, and reading rooms or study cafes will close after 9 p.m. Indoor sports facilities will be completely closed, and schools must reduce the number of students attending in person to less than one-third.