[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Hyewon] As the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) continues in South Korea, new confirmed cases were reported nationwide on the 23rd.
According to the quarantine authorities, Seoul city, and other local governments, from midnight to 6 p.m. on that day, a total of 1,131 new COVID-19 positive cases were recorded nationwide.
This is 92 fewer than the 1,223 cases recorded at the same time the previous day, and 42 fewer than the 1,173 cases reported a week earlier on the 16th.
Looking at the regions where confirmed cases were reported that day, 879 cases (77.7%) were in the metropolitan area, and 252 cases (22.3%) were in non-metropolitan areas.
By city and province, Seoul reported 417 cases, Gyeonggi 373, Incheon 89, Chungnam 62, Chungbuk 36, Busan 35, Daegu 29, Gyeongnam 23, Gyeongbuk 21, Gangwon 12, Jeju and Daejeon 8 each, Jeonbuk 7, Jeonnam 5, Gwangju 4, and Ulsan 2.
Among the 17 cities and provinces nationwide, no confirmed cases were reported in Sejong.
Since there is still time until midnight when the tally closes, the number of new confirmed cases announced as of 0:00 on the 24th is expected to increase further, reaching the 1,400 range.
The previous day, 285 additional cases were reported after 6 p.m., closing at a final count of 1,508 cases.
The fourth domestic wave, which began in early July, has continued for over three months.
The daily number of confirmed cases has remained in the four-digit range for 109 consecutive days since July 7 (1,211 cases).
Looking at the new confirmed cases reported over the past week from the 17th to that day, the daily numbers were 1,420 → 1,050 → 1,073 → 1,571 → 1,441 → 1,439 → 1,508, averaging about 1,357 cases per day.
Among these, the average daily number of locally transmitted cases excluding imported cases was 1,339.
Regarding major infection cases, a cluster infection involving a total of 25 people, including doctors and staff, occurred at an obstetrics and gynecology clinic in Gangdong-gu, Seoul. A cluster infection was also confirmed at a nursing hospital in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul, with a total of 29 confirmed cases.
Additionally, in Taean, Chungnam, seven foreign crew members working on three different fishing vessels tested positive. At a church in Daegu, two additional cases were confirmed, increasing the cumulative number of confirmed cases to 15.
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