Despite the Weekend, New Confirmed Cases Exceed 200... 176 Local Cases Reported

208 People, 3 More Than the Previous Day
Over 100 Cases Every Day Except 3 Times in 15 Days
Clusters of Infections Emerge in Everyday Spaces

Reference image (Source=Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyo-jin] As clusters of COVID-19 outbreaks continue across the country, the number of new confirmed cases recorded in the 200s on the 15th. This marks the second consecutive day with cases in the 200s, following 205 cases the previous day.

Considering that COVID-19 testing significantly decreases on weekends and holidays, this indicates that the spread is quite severe. Large and small cluster infections have erupted in everyday settings such as medical institutions, nursing facilities, workplaces, saunas, cafes, and family or acquaintance gatherings. The quarantine authorities are considering measures such as raising the social distancing level to 1.5.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight on this day, 208 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed, bringing the total to 28,546. This is an increase of 3 cases from the previous day. The number of new confirmed cases has been in the triple digits for eight consecutive days since the 8th of this month (143 cases).

Recently, with numerous 'daily infections' occurring nationwide including the metropolitan area, the domestic COVID-19 spread is accelerating sharply.

Looking at the daily new confirmed cases this month: 124 → 97 → 75 → 118 → 125 → 145 → 89 → 143 → 126 → 100 → 146 → 143 → 191 → 205 → 208, with all but three days exceeding 100 cases over the past fifteen days.

Of the 208 new confirmed cases today, 176 were locally transmitted and 32 were imported from overseas.

The number of locally transmitted cases increased by 10 from the previous day (166 cases), maintaining the 100s for five consecutive days since the 11th of this month.

By region, the metropolitan area accounted for 124 cases: Seoul 81, Gyeonggi 41, and Incheon 2. The number of locally transmitted cases in the metropolitan area has remained in the 100s for three consecutive days, following 113 and 109 cases on the 13th and 14th respectively.

Outside the metropolitan area, Gangwon had the highest number with 19 cases, followed by Chungbuk and Jeonnam with 8 each, Gwangju 7, Chungnam 5, Gyeongnam 3, and Gyeongbuk 2.

Major infection cases show that transmission through everyday spaces continues in various places.

Regarding a sauna in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, since the first confirmed case on the 7th, a total of 9 cases have been confirmed as of the afternoon of the previous day. Also, a hospital located in Gangseo-gu has reported a total of 10 confirmed cases currently under treatment.

In addition, existing cluster outbreaks are growing daily in scale, such as the Ace Hope Care Center in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul (59 cumulative cases), a cafe in Dongjak-gu (16 cases), and a private academy in Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi (22 cases).

Outside the metropolitan area, transmission chains continue in various places including a gathering of acquaintances in Inje-gun, Gangwon (21 cases), a call center in Cheonan, Chungnam (42 cases), a company in Gwangyang-si, Jeonnam (19 cases), a bank in Suncheon-si (10 cases), and a couple in Sacheon-si, Gyeongnam (20 cases).

32 Imported Cases... Increase Continues

The number of imported confirmed cases was 32, down 7 from 39 the previous day.

Imported cases have been steadily increasing, fluctuating between 10 and 30 cases since the last single-digit count of 7 on the 28th of last month.

From the 29th of last month to today, the daily number of confirmed cases was 19 → 21 → 31 → 23 → 18 → 29 → 20 → 17 → 28 → 17 → 25 → 27 → 29 → 33 → 15 → 29 → 39 → 32, with 13 out of 18 days exceeding 20 cases, and 4 of those days in the 30s.

Among the 32 new imported cases today, 18 were identified during quarantine inspections at airports or ports. The remaining 14 tested positive while in self-quarantine at their residences or temporary living facilities in Seoul and Gyeonggi (4 each), Gwangju and Jeonbuk (2 each), and Daegu and Jeonnam (1 each).

The presumed countries of origin for these cases are the United States with 8 cases, Russia 7, Uzbekistan 5, Germany, Poland, and Mexico 2 each, and the Philippines, India, Kuwait, Bangladesh, France, and Hungary 1 each.

Among the confirmed cases, 22 are Korean nationals and 10 are foreigners.

Combining local transmissions and imported cases (excluding quarantine), the metropolitan area accounts for 132 cases: Seoul 85, Gyeonggi 45, and Incheon 2. New confirmed cases were reported in 12 cities and provinces nationwide.

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