Regional Confirmed Cases: Seoul Metropolitan Area 802 (77.3%), Non-Metropolitan Area 236 (22.7%)
Cluster Infections Continue in Daily Life Spaces Such as Markets
On the afternoon of the 4th, citizens visiting the COVID-19 screening clinic set up at Mapo-gu Public Health Center in Seoul are waiting for specimen testing. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] The fourth wave of COVID-19 in South Korea, which began in early July, has continued for over three months. The daily number of confirmed cases has recorded four digits for 103 consecutive days since July 7 (1,211 cases).
According to the quarantine authorities, Seoul city, and other local governments, from midnight to 9 p.m. on the 17th, a total of 1,038 new confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported nationwide. This is 332 fewer than the 1,370 cases recorded at the same time the previous day and 236 fewer than the 1,274 cases reported on Sunday, July 10.
Looking at the regions where cases were confirmed that day, 802 cases (77.3%) were in the metropolitan area, and 236 cases (22.7%) were in non-metropolitan areas.
By city and province, there were 371 cases in Gyeonggi, 346 in Seoul, 85 in Incheon, 44 in Daegu, 33 each in Busan and Chungnam, 28 in Gyeongnam, 27 in Chungbuk, 18 in Gyeongbuk, 17 in Jeonbuk, 9 each in Jeonnam and Gangwon, 6 in Jeju, 5 in Daejeon, 4 in Gwangju, and 3 in Ulsan. However, among the 17 cities and provinces nationwide, no cases were reported in Sejong.
Considering that there is still time until midnight when the tally closes, the number of new confirmed cases announced as of 0:00 on the 18th is expected to increase further, reaching the high 1,000s or possibly the low 1,100s. The previous day saw an increase of 50 cases after 9 p.m., closing at a final count of 1,420.
In particular, cluster infections continue in daily life spaces such as markets and multi-use facilities. At Dongdaemun General Market in Jongno-gu, Seoul, where the first confirmed case occurred on the 6th, a total of 55 people tested positive. At an indoor sports facility in Gangnam-gu, 10 users have been confirmed positive since the 13th.
Additional confirmed cases have been identified in existing cluster infections as well. At a nursing hospital in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, 24 more confirmed cases were found, bringing the cumulative total to 78.
Furthermore, infections continue to be confirmed in other cases such as a high school in Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk (cumulative 55 cases) and a church in Buk-gu, Daegu (39 cases).
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