[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] As the spread of COVID-19 continues in South Korea, the number of new confirmed cases on the 16th recorded in the early 1600s.
The Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced that as of midnight on that day, 1,618 new confirmed cases were added, bringing the total to 340,978.
The number of new confirmed cases decreased by 66 compared to the previous day (1,684). The number has remained below 2,000 for eight consecutive days since the 9th (1,953 cases).
There were concerns that the number of tests would increase after the Hangul Day holiday (9th to 11th), leading to a significant rise in new confirmed cases, but no surge was observed.
The number of new confirmed cases on that day was 335 fewer than last Friday, a week ago, when there were 1,953 cases.
As the government announced the adjustment plan for 'social distancing,' a preparatory stage for transitioning to 'with COVID,' attention is focused on how the relaxed quarantine guidelines will affect the trend of confirmed cases.
Among 1,594 locally transmitted cases, 1,267 are in the Seoul metropolitan area... 79.5%
Regarding the infection routes of new confirmed cases on that day, 1,594 were locally transmitted, and 24 were imported cases.
Among the locally transmitted cases by region, Seoul had 585, Gyeonggi 579, and Incheon 103, totaling 1,267 in the Seoul metropolitan area, accounting for 79.5%.
Non-metropolitan areas reported 327 cases (20.5%) in total: Chungbuk 68, Gyeongbuk 49, Daegu 47, Chungnam 38, Jeonnam 24, Busan 22, Gangwon 19, Jeonbuk and Gyeongnam 16 each, Daejeon 9, Gwangju, Ulsan, and Jeju 6 each, and Sejong 1.
The daily number of confirmed cases has maintained four digits for 102 consecutive days since July 7 (1,211 cases).
Looking at the new confirmed cases over the past week from the 10th to that day, the daily numbers were 1,594 → 1,297 → 1,347 → 1,583 → 1,939 → 1,684 → 1,618, remaining below 2,000 throughout the week.
The average daily number of confirmed cases over one week is about 1,580, of which approximately 1,562 are locally transmitted cases excluding imported cases.
18 deaths and 361 critically ill patients... confirmed cases in all 17 provinces and cities
The number of imported confirmed cases increased by 10 from the previous day (14) to 24.
Among them, 7 were identified during quarantine at airports or ports. The remaining 17 tested positive while in self-quarantine at their residences or temporary living facilities in regions including Gyeonggi (8), Gyeongbuk (3), Seoul, Ulsan, Chungbuk, Chungnam, Gyeongnam, and Jeju (1 each).
Combining locally transmitted and imported cases (excluding quarantine), the Seoul metropolitan area alone accounted for a total of 1,276 cases: Seoul 586, Gyeonggi 587, and Incheon 103. Confirmed cases were reported across all 17 provinces and cities nationwide.
The number of deaths increased by 18 from the previous day, reaching a cumulative total of 2,644. The domestic average fatality rate is 0.78%.
The number of critically ill patients totaled 361, a decrease of 10 from the previous day (371).
As of midnight on that day, the cumulative positive rate in the country was 2.24%.
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