507 New COVID-19 Cases Confirmed... Expectations for Eased Social Distancing Measures

507 Cases as of Midnight on the 18th
33 Fewer Than the Previous Day
Maintaining 500s for Three Consecutive Days

Social Distancing Reform Plan to Be Announced on the 20th
Expected to Include Minimizing Business Closures and Relaxing Private Gathering Size Limits

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] As the spread of COVID-19 in Korea shows signs of easing, the number of new confirmed cases on the first day of the weekend, today (19th), is expected to remain below 500.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced that as of midnight on the 18th, the number of new confirmed cases was 507. This is 33 fewer than the previous day, the 17th (540 cases), maintaining the 500-range for three consecutive days since the 16th (545 cases).

According to the intermediate tally of new confirmed cases from midnight to 9 p.m. the previous day by the quarantine authorities and local governments including Seoul, the total was 452, which is 25 fewer than the same time on the previous day (477 cases). Considering the trend that the number of confirmed cases does not increase significantly during nighttime hours, the total is expected to be in the high 400s to around 500.

Recently, although cluster infections have occurred in various daily settings such as daycare centers, restaurants, religious facilities, and indoor sports facilities, the number of patients is not rapidly increasing.

Looking at major new infection cases in the metropolitan area, a total of 17 people were confirmed positive across an indoor sports facility in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, and a restaurant in Gangbuk-gu. In Ansan City, Gyeonggi Province, 17 cases were confirmed centered around churchgoers at a cathedral, and 10 cases were reported at a daycare center in Hwaseong City. Outside the metropolitan area, small cluster infections were newly confirmed in cases related to a cram school in Jincheon-gun, Chungbuk (8 cumulative cases), a sports center in Suseong-gu, Daegu (6 cases), and golf lessons in Suncheon City, Jeonnam (5 cases).

Meanwhile, the government plans to announce the revised social distancing plan to be implemented from next month on the 20th. The previously disclosed draft revision aims to reduce the current five-step social distancing system (1→1.5→2→2.5→3 steps) to four steps (1 to 4), minimize business suspension (gathering bans) at multi-use facilities, and vary the size of private gatherings according to each step.