Record High May Be Broken in Just One Day... 1,179 Confirmed Cases by 9 PM

66 More Than the Same Time the Previous Day

On the 7th, as the number of new COVID-19 cases exceeded 1,200, citizens are waiting to get tested at a temporary screening clinic set up in front of Exit 6 of Samseong Station in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] As of 9 p.m., 1,179 new COVID-19 cases were reported nationwide. The spread of infections, centered around the Seoul metropolitan area, continues strongly, marking the third consecutive day with over 1,000 new cases.

According to the quarantine authorities, Seoul city, and other local governments on the 8th, from midnight to 9 p.m. on the same day, a total of 1,179 people were confirmed positive for COVID-19 nationwide. This is 66 more than the 1,113 cases recorded at the same time the previous day. The previous day's new cases had reached 1,275, the highest number in about a year and a half since the first domestic infection was reported in January last year.

Since there is still time until midnight when the count is finalized, the number of new cases announced at midnight on the 9th is expected to be in the mid to high 1,200s, possibly exceeding 1,300. On the previous day, 162 additional cases were reported after 9 p.m. This suggests a high possibility of breaking the record again just one day after setting the all-time high.

By region, the Seoul metropolitan area accounted for 926 cases, representing 78.5% of the nationwide total. Specifically, Seoul reported 478 cases, Gyeonggi 366, and Incheon 82. In non-metropolitan areas, large-scale infections occurred in Busan (53 cases) and Chungnam (52 cases), continuing from the previous day. This was followed by Daejeon with 26 cases, Gangwon 24, Daegu 19, Ulsan and Gyeongnam each 15, Jeju 14, Chungbuk 13, Gyeongbuk 9, Jeonbuk 7, Gwangju 4, and Jeonnam 2. Cases were reported in all regions except Sejong. While the Seoul metropolitan area remains dominant, the proportion of cases outside the metropolitan area has exceeded 20%, indicating a spreading trend.

Meanwhile, the government will announce adjustments to social distancing measures for the Seoul metropolitan area, where the COVID-19 spread is rapidly increasing, on the 9th. Initially, considering social and economic damages, the plan was to monitor the situation until the weekend, but due to the urgent situation with daily cases exceeding 1,000, an emergency adjustment is being made.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare sent a notice to the press corps stating, "On the morning of the 9th, a Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting chaired by Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum will be held to discuss adjustments for the metropolitan area," and "the results will be announced through a briefing." The briefing on the meeting results will be conducted by Minister of Health and Welfare Kwon Deok-cheol at 11 a.m.

If the 4th level of social distancing is applied, gatherings of up to four people are allowed before 6 p.m., and only two people can meet afterward. Restaurants, cafes, karaoke rooms, movie theaters, shops, marts, and department stores must close by 10 p.m. Clubs and emotional pubs will be subject to closure orders, and all rallies and events except for one-person protests will be completely banned. Only relatives may attend weddings and funerals.