New COVID-19 Cases Nationwide Reach 116,030 by 9 PM... 3,042 Fewer Than Yesterday

Gyeonggi 29,044 People, Seoul 19,596 People, etc., Capital Region 44.3%

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] As the spread of COVID-19 intensifies again, more than 110,000 new confirmed cases were reported nationwide by 9 p.m. on the 13th.

According to Seoul Metropolitan Government and other local governments, from midnight to 9 p.m. on this day, 116,030 people across 17 cities and provinces nationwide were confirmed positive for COVID-19.

This is 3,042 fewer than the previous day's count at the same time (119,072).

Typically, the number of diagnostic tests decreases on weekends, resulting in fewer confirmed cases, and then increases again midweek.

The number of confirmed cases as of 9 p.m. on this day was 1.14 times (14,469 more) the figure from a week earlier on the 6th (101,561). Compared to two weeks ago on the 30th of last month (70,191), it increased by 45,839 cases, reaching 1.65 times.

In the interim tally, the weekly ratio of new confirmed cases compared to the previous week has been maintained between 1.1 and 1.2 times, showing 1.25→1.34→1.27→1.26→1.15→1.10→1.14 over the recent seven days.

Although the 'doubling' phenomenon, where the number of confirmed cases doubles weekly, has eased, authorities are closely monitoring the situation as the number of tests may have decreased due to the vacation season and heavy rains.

Since there is still time until midnight when the tally closes, the number of new confirmed cases to be announced on the 14th is expected to increase further, likely reaching around 120,000.

As of 9 p.m. on this day, new confirmed cases were 51,453 (44.34%) in the metropolitan area and 64,577 (55.66%) in non-metropolitan areas. While new cases had been mostly concentrated in the metropolitan area for some time, recently, non-metropolitan areas have occasionally accounted for more than half.

By region, the numbers are: Gyeonggi 29,044, Seoul 19,596, Gyeongnam 7,716, Gyeongbuk 6,454, Incheon 6,028, Chungnam 5,599, Daegu 5,240, Jeonbuk 5,107, Busan 4,666, Jeonnam 4,475, Gwangju 4,460, Chungbuk 4,299, Daejeon 4,112, Gangwon 3,463, Ulsan 2,813, Jeju 1,909, and Sejong 1,049.

From the 7th for one week, the daily new confirmed cases were 105,468→55,262→149,866→151,748→137,204→128,714→124,592, averaging 121,836 cases.

Meanwhile, with concerns about the spread of COVID-19 infections at large-scale performances such as Psy's 'Heumbbeok Show' during the vacation season, the government has requested the industry to strengthen on-site inspections and manage mask-wearing until next month.