[Breaking] 1,605 New Confirmed Cases, Highest on Sunday... Concerns Over Chuseok Resurgence

A police officer visiting the temporary COVID-19 screening site set up at Seoul Station Plaza on the 19th is undergoing a test. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] As COVID-19 spreads again mainly in the Seoul metropolitan area, the number of new confirmed cases on the 20th was recorded in the early 1600s.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced that as of midnight on that day, 1,605 new confirmed cases were added, bringing the total to 287,536. This is 305 fewer than the previous day (1,910), but it is the highest number of Sunday cases (reported on Monday) since the COVID-19 outbreak in Korea.

Looking at the Sunday confirmed cases over the past four weeks, the numbers were 1,485 → 1,375 → 1,433 → 1,605, maintaining the 1,300 to 1,400 range for the previous three weeks but sharply rising to the 1,600s this week. This is the highest number of Sunday cases due to the resurgence centered in the metropolitan area.

In particular, with the Chuseok holiday leading to large-scale population movement, there are concerns about a nationwide resurgence after the holiday. Regarding the infection routes of the new confirmed cases on this day, 1,577 were locally transmitted and 28 were imported.

The fourth wave, which began in early July, has continued for over two and a half months. The daily confirmed cases have been in four digits for 76 consecutive days since July 7 (1,211 cases). Looking at the new confirmed cases over the past week from the 14th to this day, the daily numbers were 1,495 → 2,780 → 1,942 → 2,008 → 2,087 → 1,910 → 1,605.