As of 6 PM, Nationwide COVID-19 Cases Reach 34,785, Doubling

18,633 People in the Seoul Metropolitan Area, Accounting for 55% of the Total

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] Amid the prominent resurgence of COVID-19, a provisional tally shows that at least 33,772 new confirmed cases were reported from midnight to 6 p.m. on the 16th.

This figure is 1,062 cases higher than the 32,710 cases (final count 41,310) reported during the same time frame on the previous weekday. Compared to last Saturday (the 9th) at the same time (16,920 cases), it is 16,852 cases more, indicating a continued weekly doubling phenomenon. Compared to two weeks ago (the 2nd) with 8,029 cases, the increase is more than fourfold.

On this day, 18,633 cases were confirmed in the Seoul metropolitan area, accounting for 55% of the total. The 14 non-metropolitan cities and provinces recorded 15,139 cases.

Confirmed cases by region are as follows: Gyeonggi 8,722, Seoul 8,009, Gyeongnam 1,958, Incheon 1,902, Gyeongbuk 1,663, Busan 1,571, Ulsan 1,369, Jeonbuk 1,247, Chungnam 1,210, Gangwon 1,158, Daegu 1,110, Gwangju 930, Daejeon 861, Jeonnam 848, Jeju 736, Chungbuk 444, Sejong 34.

Both the metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas showed an increase in confirmed cases compared to the previous day. The metropolitan area saw an increase of 407 cases. While Gyeonggi decreased by 674 cases, Seoul and Incheon increased by 850 and 231 cases respectively.

In the non-metropolitan areas, 10 out of 14 cities and provinces showed an increase, excluding Sejong, Chungbuk, Chungnam, and Jeonnam. The increase in non-metropolitan areas was 655 cases.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) projected that assuming a COVID-19 virus transmission rate of 31.5%, the peak of this resurgence would be on September 26, with a maximum daily new confirmed case count reaching 182,300.

Meanwhile, considering the characteristics of the highly transmissible Omicron subvariant BA.5, if the transmission rate is assumed to be 41.5%, the KDCA predicts the peak will occur on September 16, with a maximum daily new confirmed case count of 206,600.