3,552 COVID-19 Cases Confirmed by 9 PM... 257 Fewer Than Previous Day

Average Number of Confirmed Cases Approximately 3,854 Per Day Over the Past Week Since the 9th

On the morning of the 13th, medical staff are busy working at the COVID-19 Emergency Medical Center of Seoul Medical Center in Jungnang-gu, Seoul. Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] As the new COVID-19 variant Omicron spreads, the number of new confirmed cases exceeded 3,500 as of 9 PM on the 15th.

According to the quarantine authorities, Seoul city, and other local governments, a total of 3,552 people across 17 cities and provinces nationwide were confirmed positive for COVID-19 by 9 PM that day. This is 257 fewer than the same time the previous day.

Due to social distancing and the expansion of the third dose of COVID-19 vaccinations, the spread slowed down at the end of last month but is now increasing again.

Among the new confirmed cases that day, 2,355 (66.3%) were in the metropolitan area, and 1,197 (33.7%) were in non-metropolitan areas. By city and province, the numbers were: Gyeonggi 1,210, Seoul 885, Incheon 260, Gwangju 180, Daegu 153, Busan 145, Chungnam 114, Gyeongbuk 108, Jeonbuk 106, Jeonnam 95, Gyeongnam 94, Gangwon 74, Daejeon 54, Chungbuk 30, Sejong 21, Ulsan 15, and Jeju 8.

The number of new confirmed cases over the past week from the 9th were 3,371 → 3,005 → 3,094 → 4,383 → 4,165 → 4,539 → 4,423, averaging about 3,854 cases per day.