COVID-19 Cases Reach 348 by 6 PM, Up 64 from Previous Day... Around 400 Expected Tomorrow

On the 23rd, when the number of new COVID-19 cases reached 346, entering the 300s range for the first time in a week, citizens visiting the temporary screening clinic set up at Seoul Station Plaza lined up to get tested. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] As the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic continues, new confirmed cases have been reported across the country on the 23rd.

According to the quarantine authorities, Seoul city, and other local governments, from midnight to 6 p.m. on the same day, a total of 348 new COVID-19 positive cases were confirmed nationwide. This is 64 more than the 284 cases reported at the same time the previous day.

Looking at the regions where confirmed cases were reported, 263 cases (75.6%) were in the Seoul metropolitan area, and 85 cases (24.4%) were in non-metropolitan areas. By city and province, there were 128 cases in Gyeonggi, 117 in Seoul, 23 in Gyeongnam, 18 in Incheon, 16 in Busan, 15 in Gangwon, 11 each in Daegu and Gyeongbuk, 3 in Chungbuk, and 2 each in Ulsan, Gwangju, and Jeonbuk. Among the 17 cities and provinces nationwide, no confirmed cases have yet been reported in Daejeon, Sejong, Chungnam, Jeonnam, and Jeju.

Since there is still time left until midnight when the tally is finalized, the number of new confirmed cases announced as of 0 a.m. on the 24th is expected to increase to around 400. On the previous day, 62 cases were added after 6 p.m., closing at a final count of 346.

Recently, the number of new confirmed cases has fluctuated between 300 and 400, but the frequency of cases in the 400 range is gradually increasing, showing an upward trend. From the 17th to the 23rd, the daily new confirmed cases (as of midnight) were 469 → 445 → 463 → 447 → 456 → 415 → 346, averaging 434.4 cases per day. Among these, the daily average of locally transmitted cases, a key indicator for adjusting the 'social distancing' level, is about 417, which still falls within the Level 2.5 range (nationwide 400?500 or more cases).

Major new cases include cluster infections linked to everyday places such as churches, universities, and bathhouses. Newly confirmed infections were reported at a church in Songpa-gu, Seoul (cumulative 17 cases), a university in Yongin-si, Gyeonggi (12 cases), an agricultural machinery company meeting in Jeonju, Jeonbuk (18 cases), and a spa in Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongbuk (14 cases). In addition, additional confirmed cases have emerged related to existing cluster outbreaks, such as the second bathhouse case in Jinju-si, Gyeongnam (220 cases).

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