Amid the rapid spread of COVID-19, on the 14th, citizens lined up for testing at the temporary screening clinic at Seoul Station in Jung-gu, Seoul, where the number of new confirmed cases surged to the 700s. According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, as of midnight that day, the number of new COVID-19 cases was recorded at 731, an increase of 189 from the previous day (542). Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
[Asia Economy Reporter Minji Lee] As the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) continues domestically, confirmed cases surged nationwide on the 14th as well.
According to the quarantine authorities, Seoul city, and other local governments on the 15th, from midnight to 6 p.m. that day, the total number of new confirmed COVID-19 cases nationwide was counted at 548. This is 56 fewer than the 604 cases recorded at the same time the previous day.
Looking at the regions where confirmed cases were reported, the metropolitan area accounted for 369 cases (67.3%), and non-metropolitan areas accounted for 179 cases (32.7%). By city and province, Seoul had 179 cases, Gyeonggi 173, Busan 49, Gyeongnam 20, Ulsan and Gyeongbuk 18 each, Incheon 17, Chungbuk 15, Daegu 14, Gangwon 13, Jeonbuk 12, Jeonnam 8, Daejeon 6, Chungnam 3, Gwangju 2, and Jeju 1. No confirmed cases have yet been reported in Sejong.
Since there is still time left until midnight when the tally closes, the number of new confirmed cases announced based on midnight on the 15th is expected to reach the mid-to-high 600s, possibly around 700. On the previous day, 127 cases were added after 6 p.m., closing at a final count of 731.
The COVID-19 situation is worsening, entering the early stages of the '4th wave.' Until last month, the daily new confirmed cases fluctuated between 300 and 400, but have increased to the 500s, 600s, and now the 700s. The 'infection reproduction number,' which indicates the transmission power of the virus, is also continuously rising.
From the 7th of this month to the previous day, the number of new confirmed cases over the past week recorded daily as 700 → 671 → 677 → 614 → 587 → 542 → 731, averaging 646 cases per day. Among these, the daily average of locally transmitted cases, a key indicator for adjusting the 'social distancing' level, was 625.1, exceeding the upper limit of the 2.5-level criteria (nationwide 400 to 500 or more, or rapid patient increase such as doubling).
Major infection cases include clusters at academies, schools, and religious facilities. In Wonju, Gangwon, nine members of a private opera choir were confirmed positive in a mass infection, and in Jecheon, Chungbuk, three additional middle and high school students who were choir members also tested positive. In Goyang, Gyeonggi, one more confirmed case related to a cluster infection at a practical music academy was added, bringing the total to 24.
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