380 Local Cases - 49 Overseas Cases... Total 151,149 Cases, 5 Deaths ↑ Total 2,002 Deaths
Seoul 165 - Gyeonggi 113 - Incheon 22 - Busan 21 - Daegu 16 - Gangwon 13
Highest Overseas Inflow in 330 Days... 12,480 Tests Conducted Yesterday, Positivity Rate 3.44%
On the 11th, when the government announced the extension of the current social distancing measures (Level 2 in the metropolitan area, Level 1.5 in non-metropolitan areas) and the ban on private gatherings of five or more people for three weeks, citizens are receiving specimen tests at a temporary COVID-19 screening clinic set up at Seoul Station Plaza. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@
[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the number of new confirmed cases on the 20th was in the low 400s. This marks a decrease of about 50 cases from the previous day, maintaining the 400-level for two consecutive days.
Meanwhile, the government announced that it will unveil a revised "social distancing" plan to be applied from July during a regular briefing at 4:40 PM on the same day.
The new social distancing measures, emphasizing autonomy and responsibility, include easing the limits on private gathering sizes and minimizing business operation bans for multi-use facilities. According to the draft previously released by the government, under the new social distancing system, most regions are expected to allow gatherings of "5 or more" people. Additionally, operating hours for multi-use facilities such as restaurants, cafes, and gyms in the metropolitan area (currently until 10 PM) are expected to be extended, and entertainment venues that have been closed for several months may be allowed to reopen.
First, the Central Disease Control Headquarters reported that as of midnight on the day, 429 new confirmed cases were added, bringing the total to 151,149.
The daily number of confirmed cases over the past week from the 14th to the 20th were 399 → 373 → 545 → 540 → 507 → 482 → 429. During this period, the 500-level was recorded three times, and the 300- and 400-levels twice each.
With an average of about 467.9 cases per day over the week, the key indicator for adjusting social distancing levels?the average daily number of locally transmitted cases?was approximately 438.9, still within the Level 2.5 range (nationwide 400?500 cases or more).
On the day, the infection routes of new confirmed cases were 380 local transmissions and 49 imported cases. By region, the metropolitan area accounted for 282 cases (74.2%) with Seoul at 152, Gyeonggi at 111, and Incheon at 19. Non-metropolitan areas reported a total of 98 cases (25.8%), including Daegu 15, Busan 14, Gangwon 13, Chungnam and Gyeongnam 10 each, Daejeon 8, Chungbuk 6, Ulsan and Gyeongbuk 5 each, Jeonbuk and Jeonnam 3 each, and Gwangju, Sejong, and Jeju 2 each.
Major infection cases include new cluster outbreaks in the metropolitan area linked to an elementary school in Yongin, Gyeonggi (11 cumulative cases), a manpower office in Icheon (16 cases), and a karaoke room in Bucheon (11 cases). In Gyeongnam, additional infections occurred mainly among contacts of existing confirmed cases, and in Busan, seven Indonesians who entered the country to work as seafarers tested positive.
The number of imported confirmed cases was 49, 23 more than the previous day (26). This is the highest number in 330 days since July 25 last year (86 cases).
Among them, 19 were identified during quarantine at airports or ports. The remaining 30 tested positive while in self-quarantine at their residences or temporary living facilities in Seoul (13), Busan (7), Incheon (3), Gyeonggi (2), and one each in Daegu, Gwangju, Sejong, Gyeongbuk, and Gyeongnam.
Combining local transmissions and imported cases (excluding quarantine), the metropolitan area totaled 300 cases: Seoul 165, Gyeonggi 113, and Incheon 22. Nationwide, confirmed cases were reported across all 17 provinces and cities.
The death toll increased by 5 from the previous day, reaching a cumulative total of 2,002, surpassing 2,000 for the first time in 1 year and 5 months since the COVID-19 outbreak in Korea. The domestic average fatality rate stands at 1.32%. The number of critically ill patients totaled 146, down 5 from 151 the previous day.
The number of tests conducted at screening clinics on the previous day was 12,480, which is 23,732 fewer than the 36,212 tests conducted the day before.
The positivity rate, calculated as confirmed cases relative to the number of tests, was 3.44% (429 out of 12,480), significantly higher than the previous day's 1.66% (482 out of 29,106). As of midnight on the day, the cumulative positivity rate was 1.46% (1,033,5634 tests with 151,149 confirmed cases).
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