New COVID-19 Cases Reach 446 by 9 PM, Up 34 from Yesterday... Around 500 Expected (Comprehensive)

On the 9th, when 564 new COVID-19 cases were reported, bringing the daily count back to the 500s, citizens visiting the temporary screening clinic set up at Seoul Station lined up to get tested. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] As the spread of COVID-19 continues across the country, new confirmed cases were reported nationwide on the 10th. According to the quarantine authorities, Seoul city, and other local governments, from midnight to 9 p.m. on that day, a total of 446 new confirmed COVID-19 cases were recorded nationwide. This is 34 more than the 412 cases recorded at the same time the previous day.

The decrease in the interim confirmed cases compared to weekdays last week reflects the reduced number of tests conducted over the weekend and holidays, making it difficult to conclude that the recent spread has slowed down. Looking at the regions where confirmed cases were reported that day, 296 cases (66.4%) were from the metropolitan area, and 150 cases (33.6%) were from non-metropolitan areas.

By city and province, there were 160 cases in Seoul, 110 in Gyeonggi, 26 in Incheon, 20 in Jeju, 18 each in Ulsan and Chungnam, 15 each in Gwangju and Gyeongbuk, 13 in Busan, 12 in Gangwon, 9 each in Gyeongnam and Jeonnam, 7 each in Daejeon and Jeonbuk, 4 in Chungbuk, and 3 in Daegu. Among the 17 cities and provinces nationwide, Sejong has yet to report any confirmed cases. Since there is still time until midnight when the tally closes, the number of new confirmed cases announced at 0:00 on the 11th is expected to increase to around 500, possibly reaching the low to mid-500s. The previous day saw an increase of 88 cases after 6 p.m., closing at a final count of 463.

Looking at the recent pattern of confirmed cases, the '4th wave' continues as cluster infections occur nationwide. From the 4th to the 10th, the daily new confirmed cases were 541 → 676 → 574 → 525 → 701 → 564 → 463, averaging about 578 new cases per day. Among these, the daily average of locally transmitted cases, which is a key indicator for adjusting the 'social distancing' level and gauging the community spread, is about 552, still within the 2.5 level range (nationwide 400?500 or more cases).

Major new infection cases include ongoing transmission among family and acquaintances, missionary centers, temples, and university hospitals. In Seoul, new cluster outbreaks were reported at an elementary school in Gangnam-gu (cumulative 17 cases), a restaurant in Gangbuk-gu (11 cases), and a university hospital in Dongjak-gu (13 cases). In Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi Province, 13 people including visitors, family, and colleagues were infected at a missionary center, and related to the third cluster infection among a family and acquaintances in the same area, 10 confirmed cases were reported. In non-metropolitan areas, infection cases were confirmed at a temple in Gumi-si, Gyeongbuk (cumulative 9 cases), a vinyl greenhouse workplace in Gimcheon-si, Gyeongbuk (8 cases), and a sports facility in Dalseo-gu, Daegu (6 cases).