[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Eunbyeol] As the spread of COVID-19 continues mainly in the metropolitan area, new confirmed cases were reported across the country even on the last day of the holiday, the 22nd.
According to the quarantine authorities, Seoul city, and other local governments, from midnight to 9 p.m. on the same day, a total of 1,603 new COVID-19 positive cases were confirmed nationwide. This is 62 more than the 1,541 cases recorded at the same time the previous day.
The increase in confirmed cases appears to be due to more people getting tested on their way back home, but it is 252 fewer than the mid-day count of 1,855 on Wednesday, September 15, influenced by the Chuseok holiday.
By region, the metropolitan area accounted for 1,243 cases (77.5%), and non-metropolitan areas accounted for 360 cases (22.5%). By city and province, Seoul reported 640 cases, Gyeonggi 495, Incheon 108, Daegu and Chungnam 53 each, Gwangju 36, Jeonbuk 31, Daejeon and Gangwon 30 each, Gyeongnam 26, Busan and Chungbuk 25 each, Gyeongbuk 21, Ulsan 15, Jeju 9, and Jeonnam 6. Cases were reported in 16 cities and provinces except Sejong.
Since there is still time left until midnight when the count closes, the number of new confirmed cases announced at midnight on the 23rd is expected to increase to around 1,800, possibly reaching the low to mid 1,800s. On the previous day, 179 cases were added after 9 p.m., closing at a total of 1,720 cases.
The fourth wave, which began in early July mainly in the metropolitan area, has been ongoing for more than two and a half months. The daily confirmed cases have remained in four digits for 78 consecutive days since July 7 (1,211 cases), and the 23rd will mark the 79th day.
Looking at major cluster outbreak cases, new infections were confirmed in hospitals, churches, workplaces, and other places. In Seoul, a hospital in Yongsan-gu reported a total of 25 confirmed cases, including 20 staff members and 1 patient. In Goyang-si, Gyeonggi, 33 people tested positive related to a church and funeral hall, and 12 infections were confirmed at a manufacturing company in Yeoju-si.
In non-metropolitan areas, six people tested positive related to a bathhouse (second case) in Yeonje-gu, Busan. Additionally, new confirmed cases continued in existing cluster outbreaks such as Garak Agricultural and Marine Products Wholesale Market in Songpa-gu, Seoul (cumulative 408 cases), Jungbu Market in Jung-gu, Seoul (159 cases), sports organizations in Gumi-si, Gyeongbuk (109 cases), a bathhouse in Seo-gu, Daegu (94 cases), and entertainment establishments in Sokcho-si, Gangwon (46 cases).
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