COVID-19 Cases Confirmed, 406 by 6 PM... Around 500 Expected Tomorrow

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seon-ae] As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, new confirmed cases were reported nationwide on the 18th as well.

According to health authorities, Seoul city, and other local governments, from midnight to 6 p.m. on that day, a total of 406 new COVID-19 positive cases were recorded nationwide. This is 16 fewer than the 422 cases recorded at the same time the previous day.

Looking at the regions where new cases were reported that day, 328 cases (80.8%) were in the metropolitan area, and 78 cases (19.2%) were in non-metropolitan areas.

By city and province, there were 183 cases in Seoul, 124 in Gyeonggi, 21 in Incheon, 18 in Busan, 10 in Daegu, 9 each in Gyeongnam, Chungnam, and Chungbuk, 4 each in Gwangju, Gyeongbuk, and Jeju, 3 each in Daejeon and Gangwon, 2 each in Ulsan and Jeonnam, and 1 in Jeonbuk.

Among the 17 cities and provinces, Sejong has not reported any confirmed cases yet.

Since there is still time left until midnight when the tally closes, the number of new confirmed cases announced at midnight on the 19th is expected to increase to around 500. The previous day saw an increase of 85 cases after 6 p.m., closing at a final count of 507.

The number of new confirmed cases reported daily over the past week from the 12th to that day were 565 → 452 → 399 → 373 → 545 → 540 → 507.

With a daily average of 483 cases over the week, the key indicator for adjusting the 'social distancing' level, the average daily locally transmitted cases, is about 454, which still falls within the 2.5 level range (nationwide 400?500 or more cases).

Regarding major new cluster infection cases, two attendees of the nationwide delivery workers' union rally in Yeouido tested positive that day. They are members of the Post Office Headquarters union who attended the rally held by the nationwide delivery workers' union on the 15th and 16th.

Since about 4,000 people participated in the rally, there is a possibility of additional confirmed cases. The police are currently testing all 950 officers (from 12 units) who worked near the rally site.

New cluster infections related to an indoor sports facility in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, and a restaurant in Gangbuk-gu were also confirmed. Since the 12th, a total of 17 people have tested positive, including 7 family members, 5 users of the indoor sports facility, and 5 restaurant workers and visitors.