Domestic COVID-19 New Cases at 313... Surges to 300s for the First Time in 81 Days (Update)

Citizens waiting to get tested at the National Medical Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] On the 18th, 313 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 were identified in South Korea. This marks the first time in 81 days since August 29 (323 cases) that the daily number of confirmed cases has exceeded 300. The number has surpassed 200 for four consecutive days since the 14th, and with an increase of more than 80 cases compared to 230 cases the previous day, the spread shows no signs of slowing down.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) for COVID-19, as of midnight on this day, there were 245 locally transmitted cases and 68 imported cases. The total cumulative number of confirmed cases rose to 29,311.

Among the locally transmitted cases, 91 were in Seoul, 81 in Gyeonggi, and 9 in Incheon, totaling 181 cases in the metropolitan area alone. Outside the metropolitan area, double-digit cases were reported in Jeonnam (15) and Gyeongbuk (12), with 9 cases each in Gwangju and Gyeongnam, 6 in Chungnam, 5 each in Gangwon and Busan, 2 in Daegu, and 1 in Daejeon.

Of the 68 imported cases, 50 were detected during quarantine procedures, and the remaining 18 were identified in the community. Among them, 18 were Korean nationals and 50 were foreigners.

The number of patients who have recovered and been released from isolation reached 25,973, an increase of 113 from the previous day. Two deaths were reported among confirmed cases, raising the total death toll from 494 to 496.

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