Nationwide COVID-19 Surge Emergency... 297 Cases in Capital Area, 100 Cases in Provinces (Summary)

Seoul 140, Gyeonggi 125, Incheon 32, Gwangju 17
Cumulative confirmed cases 17,399 - 2,629 cases in ten days

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 at Seoul City Hall in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 21st.

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, 397 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed, 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 confirmed cases over these ten days reached 2,629.

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

Regarding the infection routes of the new confirmed cases, 387 cases 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 area cases 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.

Among the 10 imported cases, 4 were identified during quarantine upon entry. The remaining 6 tested positive while in self-quarantine at their residences or temporary living facilities in Seoul, Gwangju (2 each), Gyeonggi, and Gyeongnam (1 each). Among the imported cases, 4 were Korean nationals and 6 were foreigners.

The presumed countries of origin for these imported cases are Bangladesh, India, and Vietnam with 2 cases each, and the Philippines, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Denmark with 1 case each.

Combining local transmission and imported cases (excluding quarantine), Seoul had 140 cases, Gyeonggi 125, and Incheon 32, totaling 297 cases in the metropolitan area, accounting for 75% of the total.

The number of infections in non-metropolitan areas was 100, marking the first time it reached the 100s since the metropolitan-centered outbreak.

Overall, confirmed cases were reported in 14 cities and provinces. The previous day saw infections erupting across all 17 cities and provinces.

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

Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo is delivering a public address on the COVID-19 crisis and the collective strike of medical associations at the Joint Briefing Room of the Government Seoul Office Building on the 22nd.

The number of patients released from isolation increased by 31 as of midnight, bringing the total to 14,200.

The number of patients undergoing isolation treatment increased by 366 to 2,890, among whom the number of critically ill patients rose by 5 from the previous day to 30.

A total of 1,791,186 people have been tested for COVID-19 domestically. Among them, 1,726,223 tested negative, and 47,564 are awaiting results. On the previous day, 15,386 tests were conducted.

The death toll remained unchanged at 309.

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

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