As of 9 PM, 1,488 Confirmed Cases Nationwide... Around 1,600 Expected on the 16th

On the 10th, when the number of new COVID-19 cases was recorded at 1,594, citizens were getting tested at the temporary screening clinic at Seoul Station. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] As the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) continues to spread, new confirmed cases were reported across the country on the 15th.

According to the quarantine authorities, Seoul city, and other local governments on the 15th, from midnight to 9 p.m., a total of 1,488 new COVID-19 positive cases were recorded nationwide. This is 24 fewer than the 1,512 cases recorded at the same time the previous day, and 254 fewer than the 1,742 cases reported a week ago (on the 8th).

Looking at the regions where confirmed cases were reported on this day, 1,165 cases (78.3%) were from the metropolitan area, and 323 cases (21.7%) were from non-metropolitan areas.

By city and province, the numbers are as follows: Seoul 546, Gyeonggi 516, Incheon 103, Chungbuk 67, Gyeongbuk 50, Daegu 46, Chungnam 39, Jeonnam 24, Busan 22, Gangwon 17, Jeonbuk 16, Gyeongnam 15, Daejeon 9, Jeju 7, Gwangju 6, Ulsan 4, Sejong 1. Confirmed cases were reported in all 17 cities and provinces nationwide.

Since there is still time left until midnight when the tally closes, the number of new confirmed cases announced based on midnight on the 15th is expected to increase to around 1,600.

The previous day saw an increase of 172 cases after 9 p.m., closing at a final count of 1,684.

Looking at the new confirmed cases reported over the past week from the 9th to this day, the daily numbers were 1,953 → 1,594 → 1,297 → 1,347 → 1,583 → 1,939 → 1,684, remaining below 2,000 throughout the week.

The average daily number of locally transmitted cases, excluding imported cases, is 1,609.

Major infection cases continue to occur in communal living spaces such as apartment complexes and language institutes, which are part of everyday life.