After the holiday surge, 1,802 cases by 6 PM... Highest record for the same time slot

At Least 2,000 Cases Expected Tomorrow, Record High Possible...Multiple Cluster Infections Nationwide
1,326 Cases Confirmed in the Capital Area Alone: Seoul 681, Gyeonggi 511, Incheon 134

On the 23rd, when 1,716 new COVID-19 cases were reported, marking three consecutive days with numbers in the 1,700s, citizens visiting the temporary screening clinic set up at Sinchon Station in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, are waiting to be tested. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] As the Chuseok holiday ended, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has surged.

According to the quarantine authorities, Seoul city, and other local governments on the 23rd, from midnight to 6 p.m. nationwide, a total of 1,802 new confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported.

This is 481 more than the 1,321 cases recorded at the same time the previous day, and 129 more than the 1,673 cases reported last Thursday (September 16), a week ago.

Notably, this is the highest number recorded by 6 p.m., surpassing the previous record of 1,768 cases on the 10th of last month.

Looking at the regions where cases were reported that day, the metropolitan area accounted for 1,326 cases (73.6%), and non-metropolitan areas accounted for 476 cases (26.4%).

By city and province, Seoul reported 681 cases, Gyeonggi 511, Incheon 134, Daegu 117, Chungnam 63, Chungbuk 49, Jeonbuk 40, Gwangju and Gangwon 37 each, Gyeongbuk 35, Gyeongnam 34, Busan 28, Daejeon 10, Jeonnam 9, Ulsan and Jeju 8 each, and Sejong 1.

All 17 cities and provinces nationwide reported confirmed cases.

Since there is still time until midnight when the tally closes, the number of new confirmed cases announced at 0 a.m. on the 24th is expected to increase further, reaching at least the 2,000 range, and possibly as high as 2,100 to 2,200 cases. If it surpasses 2,221 cases (as of 0 a.m. on August 11), it will be the highest record since the COVID-19 outbreak in Korea.

The previous day, after 6 p.m., 395 more cases were added, closing at a final count of 1,716 cases.