1039 New COVID-19 Cases Nationwide by 9 PM... Zero Cases in Ulsan and Sejong (Comprehensive)

Closed at 9 PM the Previous Day with 1,050 Cases
Ulsan and Sejong Report Zero Confirmed Cases

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] As COVID-19 cases subside, the nationwide number of confirmed cases as of 9 PM on the 18th remained similar to the previous day.

According to health authorities, Seoul city, and other local governments, a total of 1,039 new COVID-19 positive cases were confirmed nationwide from midnight to 9 PM on that day.

This is one more than the 1,038 cases recorded at the same time the previous day, and 235 fewer than the 1,274 cases reported on Monday, the 11th, a week earlier.

Looking at the regions where cases were confirmed that day, the metropolitan area accounted for 768 cases (73.9%), and non-metropolitan areas accounted for 271 cases (26.1%).

Gyeonggi 378, Seoul 297, Incheon 93, Gyeongbuk 42, Chungbuk 41, Chungnam 39, Busan 38, Daegu 35, Gyeongnam 18, Daejeon 15, Jeonbuk and Jeonnam 14 each, Gangwon 7, Jeju 5, Gwangju 3.

Among the 17 cities and provinces nationwide, no confirmed cases were reported in Ulsan and Sejong.

Since there is still time left until midnight when the tally closes, the number of new confirmed cases announced as of midnight on the 19th is expected to increase further, reaching the high 1,000s, possibly the low 1,100s.

The previous day, 12 additional cases were reported after 9 PM, closing at a final count of 1,050.

The fourth domestic wave, which began in early July, has continued for over three months.

The daily confirmed cases have recorded four digits for 104 consecutive days since July 7 (1,211 cases).

Among these, the average daily number of locally transmitted cases excluding imported cases is 1,503.

Although the scale of the outbreak has shifted to a declining trend, small-scale cluster infections continue in everyday settings such as schools, nursing hospitals, and workplaces.

At a nursing hospital in Guro-gu, Seoul, where the first case was reported on the 11th, a total of 11 people tested positive. At a middle school in Dongjak-gu, since the 14th, 11 people including 5 students, 4 staff members, and 2 family members have all tested positive.