New Confirmed Cases 1,078, Breaking Record Again... Meeting Level 3 Criteria (Update)

Average Daily Local Cases of 832.6 in the Past Week

On the 15th, when 880 new cases of COVID-19 were reported, citizens who visited the temporary screening clinic set up at Seoul Station Plaza were waiting to get tested. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Due to the spread of the third wave of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in South Korea, the number of new confirmed cases on the 16th once again recorded over 1,000, breaking the highest record ever. The number of locally transmitted cases also set an all-time high since domestic transmission began, meeting the conditions for raising the 'social distancing' to level 3.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced that as of midnight on the day, the total number of COVID-19 confirmed cases increased by 1,078 from midnight the previous day to 45,442. The number of new confirmed cases recorded over 1,000 for the second time following 1,030 cases on the 13th.

Looking at the infection routes of the new confirmed cases, 1,054 were locally transmitted and 24 were imported cases. Accordingly, the average daily number of locally transmitted cases over the past week reached 832.6, surpassing the 800 mark for the first time. The criteria for raising social distancing to level 3 is when the average daily number of locally transmitted cases over the past week is between 800 and 1,000 or more, or when there is a rapid increase such as doubling at level 2.5.

More than 7 out of 10 locally transmitted cases occurred in the Seoul metropolitan area. Locally transmitted cases were 373 in Seoul, 320 in Gyeonggi, and 64 in Incheon, totaling 757 cases in the metropolitan area, accounting for 71.8% of the total. Additionally, confirmed cases were reported in Jeonbuk 75, Busan 41, Chungnam 35, Gyeongbuk 28, Daegu 27, Chungbuk 22, Gyeongnam 19, Jeju 15, Daejeon 15, Gangwon 8, Ulsan 6, Jeonnam 4, and Gwangju 2.

Among the 24 imported confirmed cases, 6 were identified during quarantine upon entry. The rest tested positive while in self-quarantine at their residences or temporary living facilities in various regions: 9 in Gyeonggi, 5 in Seoul, 3 in Incheon, and 1 in Chungbuk.

The number of patients who have been declared recovered and released from isolation increased by 388 from the previous day to 32,947. The death toll rose by 12 from the previous day to 612.

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