358 Confirmed Cases in Seoul by 6 PM... "Numbers Likely to Increase Further Once Weekend Effect Disappears"

On the 12th, when the number of new COVID-19 cases recorded 1,100, maintaining the 1,000 range for consecutive days, citizens who visited the temporary screening clinic set up in Yeouido Park, Seoul, are waiting to get tested. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Minji Lee] Seoul city announced that the number of new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in Seoul was tentatively counted at 358 from midnight to 6 p.m. on the 12th, a period of 18 hours. Compared to the same time frame the previous day, it is 8 fewer than the 366 cases reported.

Among the 358 new confirmed cases as of 6 p.m., 1 case was imported from overseas, and 357 were domestic infections. New confirmed cases from cluster infections include 5 at a restaurant in Yeongdeungpo-gu, 4 at a religious facility in Dongjak-gu, 2 at an academy in Gangnam-gu, 2 at a performance hall in Jongno-gu, 2 at a workplace in Gangnam-gu, 1 at Hyundai Department Store Trade Center branch, and 10 from other cluster infections.

The nationwide cumulative number of confirmed cases from the Hyundai Department Store Trade Center branch cluster infection increased to 121, combining 112 cases in Seoul and 9 cases in other metropolitan areas. Also, the Jongno-gu performance hall cluster infection's nationwide cumulative confirmed cases increased to at least 25, including 22 in Seoul and 3 in other metropolitan areas.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak began in early last year, the highest number of confirmed cases in Seoul on a Monday was 522 on December 28 last year, when confirmed cases from a detention center cluster infection surged. The next highest was 320 on July 5 this year.

The daily number of confirmed cases in Seoul decreased to the 100-200 range after the third wave at the end of last year and early this year, then gradually increased from April, reaching the 300 range from the end of last month. On the 6th of this month, it set a record high of 583 cases in a single day.

From then until the 10th, the numbers were 550 → 503 → 509 → 509, maintaining the 500 range for five consecutive days, and on the 11th, it decreased to 403. The confirmed cases on the 11th and 12th were affected by reduced testing over the weekend, and a rebound is expected from the 13th.

As of this time, the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Seoul is 55,356. The total number of confirmed cases for the day will be compiled as of midnight on the 13th and announced in the morning.