As of 6 PM, 1,181 Confirmed Cases Nationwide... 23 Fewer Than Yesterday

On the morning of the 28th, citizens are waiting for tests at the temporary screening clinic at Seoul Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Hyewon] As the spread of COVID-19 continues in South Korea, new confirmed cases were reported across the country on the 31st.

According to health authorities, Seoul city, and other local governments, from midnight to 6 p.m. on this day, a total of 1,181 new COVID-19 positive cases were confirmed nationwide. This is 23 fewer than the 1,204 cases recorded during the same time period the previous day.

As of 6 p.m. on this day, the number of confirmed cases has exceeded 1,000 for 12 consecutive days (1,442 → 1,287 → 1,342 → 1,314 → 1,234 → 1,082 → 1,056 → 1,464 → 1,319 → 1,403 → 1,204 → 1,181), after initially surpassing 1,000 on the 6th of this month (1,006 cases), briefly dropping to three digits, and then rising again.

By region, 844 cases (71.5%) were reported in the Seoul metropolitan area, and 337 cases (28.5%) in non-metropolitan areas.

By city and province, the numbers are as follows: Seoul 395, Gyeonggi 371, Incheon 78, Gyeongnam 59, Busan 58, Chungnam 41, Daejeon and Gangwon 33 each, Gyeongbuk 27, Daegu 22, Chungbuk 17, Jeju 14, Gwangju and Jeonbuk 10 each, Ulsan 8, and Jeonnam 5.

Since there is still time until midnight when the daily tally closes, the number of new confirmed cases announced at midnight on August 1 is expected to increase to the 1,400 range, possibly reaching around 1,500.

On the previous day, 335 additional cases were reported after 6 p.m., bringing the final total to 1,539.

The fourth wave, which began mainly in the Seoul metropolitan area, is recently spreading to non-metropolitan regions as well.

The daily number of confirmed cases has remained in the four-digit range for 25 consecutive days since the 7th (1,212 cases), and will mark the 26th day on the 1st.

Looking at the new confirmed cases reported over the past week from the 25th of this month to this day, the daily counts were 1,487 → 1,318 → 1,363 → 1,895 → 1,674 → 1,710 → 1,539, fluctuating between 1,300 and 1,800 cases.

Regarding major cluster outbreaks, a new cluster infection centered around an indoor sports facility in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, was confirmed. The cumulative number of infected individuals currently stands at 34.

In Busan, a cluster infection occurred at a goshiwon (boarding house) in Sasang-gu, resulting in 7 confirmed cases.