326 New COVID-19 Cases Nationwide by 6 PM... 23 More Than Yesterday

Medical staff are preparing for tests at a temporary screening clinic for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) set up at Seoul Station Plaza on the 19th. The 20th marks exactly one year since the first confirmed COVID-19 case in the country. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park So-yeon] Although the number of new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in South Korea has clearly entered a downward trend, new cases continued across the country on the 19th.

According to the quarantine authorities, Seoul city, and other local governments, from midnight to 6 p.m. on that day, a total of 326 new confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported nationwide.

This is 23 more than the 303 cases recorded at the same time the previous day.

By region, 257 cases (78.8%) were in the metropolitan area, and 69 cases (21.2%) were in non-metropolitan areas.

By city and province, there were 125 cases in Seoul, 118 in Gyeonggi, 14 in Incheon, 9 in Daegu, 8 each in Busan and Gwangju, 6 each in Ulsan and Gangwon, 5 each in Gyeongbuk and Chungnam, 3 in Jeju, and 1 each in Daejeon and Chungbuk.

Among the 17 cities and provinces, no confirmed cases were reported in Sejong, Jeonbuk, and Jeonnam.

Since there is still time until midnight when the tally closes, the number of new confirmed cases announced as of 0:00 on the 20th is expected to increase further. Based on recent trends, the number is expected to be in the high 300s to around 400 at most.

The previous day, after 6 p.m., 83 more cases were added, closing at a final count of 386.