COVID-19: 344 New Cases Nationwide by 6 PM... Cluster Outbreaks in Churches and Hospitals

248 Cases in the Capital Area, 96 in Non-Capital Areas... Continued IM Mission Infection and New Cluster Outbreak at Hanyang University Hospital

Medical staff are collecting specimens at a temporary screening clinic set up at Seoul Station Plaza on the 27th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seon-ae] As COVID-19 shows signs of resurgence, new confirmed cases were reported across the country on the 29th.

According to the quarantine authorities, Seoul city, and other local governments, from midnight to 6 p.m. on that day, a total of 344 new confirmed COVID-19 cases were recorded nationwide.

This is one more than the 343 cases recorded at the same time the previous day.

Looking at the regions where confirmed cases were reported, 248 cases (72.1%) were in the metropolitan area, and 96 cases (27.9%) were in non-metropolitan areas.

By city and province, there were 121 cases in Seoul, 113 in Gyeonggi, 24 in Gwangju, 21 in Gyeongbuk, 14 each in Incheon and Busan, 12 in Gyeongnam, 10 in Chungbuk, 6 in Daegu, 3 in Chungnam, 2 each in Ulsan and Daejeon, and 1 each in Jeonbuk and Jeonnam.

Among the 17 cities and provinces nationwide, no confirmed cases have yet been reported in Sejong, Gangwon, and Jeju.

Since there is still time left until midnight when the tally closes, the number of new confirmed cases announced at 0:00 on the 30th is expected to increase to around 400.

However, if unexpected cluster infections occur during the nighttime, the number could rise to nearly 500.

The previous day, 126 additional cases were reported after 6 p.m., bringing the final total to 469.

Due to the combined effects of cluster infections originating from the IM Mission and sporadic outbreaks in various places, the number of new confirmed cases, which had dropped to the 300s, has risen again to the 400?500 range.

Looking at the daily new confirmed cases over the past week from the 23rd to this day, the numbers were 431 → 392 → 437 → 349 → 559 → 497 → 469, averaging 448 cases per day.

Among these, the average daily number of locally transmitted cases, which is key to adjusting the 'social distancing' level, is 421.

Since the 22nd (404.6 cases), the number has risen back to the 400s after six days, re-entering the social distancing level 2.5 range (nationwide 400?500 cases or rapid doubling of cases), and has maintained the 2.5 level for two consecutive days.

Regarding major infection cases, confirmed cases continue to increase mainly around the IM Mission case.

A total of 355 people have been confirmed positive in connection with six unauthorized alternative education facilities operated by the IM Mission in five cities and provinces nationwide. This is 15 more than the 340 cases announced by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters the previous day.

At Hanyang University Hospital in Seoul, a new cluster infection occurred on this day, with at least 23 confirmed cases, and in the second case at a nursing home in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, 26 confirmed cases have emerged within two days since the first patient was reported on the 27th.

Additionally, a total of 35 people tested positive in connection with a welfare facility in Jung-gu, Seoul, and the number of infected persons at a workplace in Gangnam-gu has increased to 44.

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