New COVID-19 Cases Surge to 1,425 by 6 PM as Weekend Effect Disappears (Update)

538 Increase Compared to Previous Day

Citizens waiting to get tested at the screening clinic set up at Songpa-gu Public Health Center in Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] As the weekend effect disappears, the number of new COVID-19 confirmed cases on the 3rd increased by more than 500 compared to the same time the previous day.

According to the quarantine authorities and local governments including Seoul City, the number of new COVID-19 confirmed cases nationwide from 0:00 to 6:00 p.m. on that day was counted at 1,425. This is an increase of 538 from the 887 cases counted at the same time the previous day. It is 39 fewer than the 1,464 cases counted at 6:00 p.m. a week ago on the 27th of last month.

Looking at the regions where confirmed cases occurred that day, the metropolitan area accounted for 929 cases (65.2%), and non-metropolitan areas accounted for 496 cases (34.8%). By city and province, Gyeonggi had 432 cases, Seoul 422, Busan 90, Incheon 75, Daegu 73, Gyeongnam 70, Chungnam 50, Daejeon 45, Gyeongbuk 44, Chungbuk 42, Gangwon 21, Jeju 18, Jeonbuk 15, Gwangju 12, Ulsan 10, Jeonnam 5, and Sejong 1.

Since there is still time left until midnight when the count is finalized, the number of new confirmed cases announced as of 0:00 on the 4th is expected to increase further to the 1,700s, possibly reaching the 1,800s. On the previous day, the number increased by 315 after 6:00 p.m., closing at a final count of 1,202.