COVID-19 New Cases 1,817 'Weekend Record'... 40th Day Over 1,000

Record Low as of Saturday
Below 1,900 Cases but Difficult to Say Spread Has Slowed

On August 15, Liberation Day, citizens are undergoing diagnostic tests at a temporary screening clinic set up in Seoul Station Plaza, Jung-gu, Seoul. The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters announced that as of midnight that day, there were 1,817 new confirmed COVID-19 cases. This marked the highest number ever recorded for a Saturday tally. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] Amid the continued spread of COVID-19, the number of new confirmed cases on August 15, Liberation Day, recorded in the early 1800s.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced that as of midnight on that day, 1,817 new confirmed cases were added, bringing the total to 223,928.

This is the highest record for a Saturday. Although it decreased by 113 cases compared to the previous day (1,930 cases), falling below 1,900 for the time being, it is difficult to say that the spread has been curbed. Typically, the number of tests significantly decreases on weekends and holidays, leading to a reduction in confirmed cases.

Regarding the infection routes of the new confirmed cases that day, 1,749 were locally transmitted, and 68 were imported cases. The fourth domestic wave, which began in early last month centered around the metropolitan area, has recently spread to various non-metropolitan regions, showing a nationwide pattern.

The daily confirmed cases have remained in four digits for 40 consecutive days since July 7 (1,212 cases). Over the past week from August 9 to that day, the daily new confirmed cases were 1,491 → 1,537 → 2,222 → 1,987 → 1,990 → 1,930 → 1,817, with more than 1,400 cases occurring each day.

The number of deaths increased by 8 from the previous day, reaching a cumulative total of 2,156. The domestic average fatality rate is 0.96%. The number of critically ill patients is 374. Although it decreased by 12 from the previous day (386), it has remained above 300 for 16 consecutive days since July 31 (317).

The total number of COVID-19 diagnostic tests conducted domestically so far is 12,344,718, of which 223,928 tested positive and 11,535,659 tested negative. The remaining 585,131 tests are awaiting results.

As of midnight on that day, the cumulative positivity rate was 1.81% (223,928 out of 12,344,718).