COVID-19 Cases Reach 387 by 9 PM, Up 80 from Previous Day... 400s Expected Tomorrow

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

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

According to health authorities, Seoul city, and other local governments, from midnight to 9 p.m. on this day, a total of 387 new COVID-19 positive cases were confirmed nationwide. This is 80 more than the 307 cases reported during the same time frame the previous day.

Looking at the regions where confirmed cases were reported, 283 cases (73.1%) were in the Seoul metropolitan area, and 104 cases (26.9%) were in non-metropolitan areas. By city and province, there were 131 cases each in Seoul and Gyeonggi, 24 in Gyeongnam, 21 in Incheon, 17 each in Daegu and Gangwon, 16 in Busan, 12 in Gyeongbuk, 6 in Chungbuk, 5 in Jeonbuk, 4 in Ulsan, 2 in Gwangju, and 1 in Daejeon. Among the 17 cities and provinces nationwide, no confirmed cases have yet been reported in Sejong, Chungnam, Jeonnam, 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 24th is expected to increase further, reaching the low to mid-400s. The previous day saw an increase of 39 cases 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 400s is gradually increasing, showing an upward trend. From the 17th to this day, the daily new confirmed cases (based on midnight) over the past week 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).

Looking at major new cases, cluster infections linked to everyday places such as churches, universities, and bathhouses have continued. New infections were confirmed 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-si, 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.