1898 New COVID-19 Cases Reported by 9 PM... 43 More Than Yesterday

On the 16th, as 70% of the population is about to achieve the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, citizens visiting the vaccination center set up at Dongdaemun-gu Gymnasium in Seoul are registering./Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] From midnight to 9 PM on the 16th, the number of new COVID-19 cases nationwide was recorded at 1,898. This is 43 more than the 1,855 cases reported at the same time the previous day.

According to health authorities and local governments, new cases in the metropolitan area accounted for 1,499 (79.0%), while non-metropolitan areas accounted for 399 (21.0%), with metropolitan cases approaching 80%.

By region, there were 743 cases in Seoul, 615 in Gyeonggi, 141 in Incheon, 51 in Chungnam, 50 in Busan, 40 in Daejeon, 38 each in Gyeongbuk and Gangwon, 37 in Daegu, 36 in Chungbuk, 35 in Gyeongnam, 21 in Gwangju, 19 in Jeonbuk, 17 in Ulsan, 9 in Jeju, and 8 in Jeonnam. Cases were reported in all regions except Sejong.

Since there is still time until midnight when the tally closes, the number of new cases announced as of midnight on the 17th is expected to be around 2,000.

The daily number of cases has remained in the four digits for 72 consecutive days since recording 1,211 on July 7. The number of new cases over the past week were 1,892 → 1,864 → 1,755 → 1,433 → 1,497 → 2,079 → 1,943, averaging about 1,780 cases per day. The average number of locally transmitted cases excluding imported cases is about 1,749 per day.

Cluster infections continue to occur in various daily settings. Related to Garak Market in Songpa-gu, Seoul, 18 additional cases were confirmed, bringing the total to 185. In a workplace in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, and a restaurant in Yongsan-gu, 14 and 12 cases were confirmed respectively. Additionally, 12 cases were confirmed at a middle school in Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, and 6 cases at a nursing hospital in Namdong-gu.