COVID-19 Nationwide Spread Emergency... 297 Cases in Capital Area, 100 Cases in Provinces (Update 2)

President Moon Jae-in adjusts his glasses with a stern expression after finishing his remarks at the "Emergency Inspection for Strengthening COVID-19 Quarantine Measures in Seoul," held on the 21st at Seoul City Hall in Jung-gu, Seoul.

As the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) rapidly increased nationwide, the number of new cases on the 23rd approached 400.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight on that day, there were 397 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 17,399.

The daily new cases recorded from the 14th were 103 → 166 → 279 → 197 → 246 → 297 → 288 → 324 → 332 → 397, maintaining three digits for ten consecutive days. The cumulative number of cases over these ten days reached 2,629.

The 397 new cases on this day increased by 65 from the previous day and marked the highest number in 169 days since March 7 (483 cases, all locally transmitted).

Regarding the infection routes of the new cases, 387 occurred locally, excluding 10 imported cases.

By region, 138 cases were reported in Seoul, 124 in Gyeonggi, and 32 in Incheon, totaling 294 cases in the metropolitan area. Additionally, there were 15 cases each in Gwangju, Daejeon, and Gangwon; 14 in Jeonnam; 10 in Chungnam; 8 in Gyeongnam; 6 in Daegu; 3 each in Ulsan and Chungbuk; and 2 each in Busan and Gyeongbuk.

COVID-19, which had been spreading mainly in the metropolitan area centered around Seoul Sarang Jeil Church, has spread nationwide through the August 15 Gwanghwamun rally, workplaces, entertainment facilities, sports facilities, and various small gatherings, with daily new cases reaching the highest levels since the second wave.

In particular, non-metropolitan cases have also reached the 100 mark for the first time since the second wave centered on the metropolitan area began in early May, showing a pattern of simultaneous spread nationwide.

Although the government expanded the 'social distancing' level 2, previously applied only to the metropolitan area, to the entire country starting from this day due to concerns about a 'nationwide pandemic,' there are concerns that this measure alone may not be sufficient.

The death toll remained unchanged at 309.

The health authorities announce the daily domestic COVID-19 patient statistics based on midnight data every day around 10 a.m.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.