[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] As the spread of COVID-19 continues, new confirmed cases surged again on the 16th.
According to the quarantine authorities, Seoul city, and other local governments, from midnight to 9 p.m. on that day, a total of 584 new confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported nationwide. This is 44 fewer than the 628 cases recorded at the same time the previous day.
By region, 401 cases were reported in the metropolitan area and 183 cases in non-metropolitan areas. By city and province, Seoul reported 210 cases, Gyeonggi 167, Gyeongnam 34, Busan 30, Gyeongbuk 29, Incheon 24, Ulsan 19, Jeonbuk 16, Gangwon 13, Daegu 12, Chungbuk 11, Chungnam 9, Daejeon 4, Gwangju 3, Jeonnam 2, and Jeju 1.
Among the 17 cities and provinces nationwide, Sejong has not yet reported any confirmed cases.
Since there is still time until midnight when the tally closes, the number of new confirmed cases announced at 0 a.m. on the 17th is expected to increase to the mid-600s, possibly reaching the high 600s. On the previous day, 45 cases were added after 9 p.m., closing at a final count of 673.
From the 10th to the 16th, the daily new confirmed cases were 677 → 614 → 587 → 542 → 731 → 698 → 673, averaging about 646 cases per day.
The daily average of locally transmitted confirmed cases, a key indicator for adjusting social distancing levels, stands at 625.7, exceeding the Level 2.5 criteria (nationwide 400 to 500 or more cases, or rapid doubling of cases).
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