1714 People Until 9 PM, 51 Fewer Than Yesterday... 1800s Expected Tomorrow (Summary)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] As the spread of COVID-19 continues in South Korea, new confirmed cases were reported nationwide on the 10th as well.

According to the quarantine authorities, Seoul city, and other local governments, from midnight to 9 p.m. on the day, a total of 1,714 new COVID-19 positive cases were confirmed nationwide. This is 51 fewer than the 1,765 cases reported at the same time the previous day. Compared to the mid-day tally of 1,744 cases last Friday (September 3), it is 30 fewer. Looking at the regions where cases were reported, the metropolitan area accounted for 1,298 cases (75.7%), and non-metropolitan areas accounted for 416 cases (24.3%).

By city and province, Seoul reported 643 cases, Gyeonggi 523, Incheon 132, Chungnam 59, Daejeon 57, Daegu 43, Gyeongnam 37, Gyeongbuk 34, Busan and Gangwon each 32, Ulsan 31, Chungbuk 27, Gwangju 21, Jeonnam 19, Jeonbuk 16, Jeju 6, and Sejong 2. All 17 cities and provinces nationwide reported confirmed cases. Since there is still time left until midnight when the tally closes, the number of new confirmed cases as of 0:00 on the 11th is expected to increase to the 1,800 range, possibly around 1,900. The previous day saw an increase of 127 cases after 9 p.m., closing at a final count of 1,892 cases.

The fourth wave, which began in early July, has continued for over two months. Especially recently, the spread in the metropolitan area, where the population is concentrated, has intensified, with the proportion of confirmed cases in the metropolitan area reaching the mid-70% range as of the 6 p.m. mid-day tally. Daily confirmed cases have remained in the four-digit range for 66 consecutive days since July 7 (1,211 cases), and the 11th will mark the 67th day. Looking at the new confirmed cases over the past week from the 4th to the 10th of this month, the daily counts were 1,803 → 1,490 → 1,375 → 1,597 → 2,048 → 2,049 → 1,892, averaging 1,751 cases per day. Among these, the average daily number of locally transmitted cases excluding imported cases is 1,720.

Recent major cluster outbreaks have been confirmed in various places such as markets, daycare centers, and academies. At the Garak Agricultural and Marine Products Wholesale Market in Songpa-gu, Seoul, 61 confirmed cases were reported. Currently, a full-scale test is underway for 930 market workers and others, with about 700 people still awaiting test results, indicating the possibility of a larger scale of infection. At a daycare center (second case) in Ansan-si, Gyeonggi Province, 31 people, mainly children, were infected at once. In Daejeon Seo-gu, a total of 17 people, including 16 academy students and 1 staff member, tested positive related to a private academy for college entrance exam preparation. Additionally, cluster infections linked to schools continue to spread daily, including 33 cumulative cases at an elementary school in Asan-si, Chungnam; 15 cases at a middle school in Suncheon-si, Jeonnam; 50 cases at childcare and educational facilities in Yangsan-si, Gyeongnam; and 18 cases at a middle school in Wonju-si, Gangwon.