565 New Confirmed Cases by 6 PM... Expected to Reach Mid-to-High 600s

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] On the 7th, as the spread of COVID-19 continued, confirmed cases occurred across the country.

According to the quarantine authorities, Seoul city, and other local governments, from midnight to 6 p.m. on that day, a total of 565 new confirmed COVID-19 cases were recorded nationwide. This is 38 more than the 527 cases reported at the same time the previous day.

Since there is still time until midnight when the tally closes, the number of new confirmed cases announced as of 0:00 on the 8th is expected to increase further, reaching the mid to high 600s, possibly around 700. On the previous day, 141 cases were added after 6 p.m., closing at a final count of 668.

By province, confirmed cases were reported as follows: Seoul 221, Gyeonggi 185, Busan 49, Incheon 23, Chungnam 16, Daejeon 15, Ulsan 14, Jeonbuk 11, Gyeongbuk 8, Gyeongnam 7, Chungbuk 6, Daegu 4, Gangwon and Jeju 3 each. Among the 17 cities and provinces nationwide, no confirmed cases have yet been reported in Gwangju, Sejong, and Jeonnam.

New confirmed cases had been recorded in the 300-400 range for over a month, but recently increased to the 500 range and then to the 600 range. The number of new confirmed cases over the past week from the 1st to that day were: 551 on the 31st of last month, 557 on the 1st, 543 on the 2nd, 543 on the 3rd, 473 on the 4th, 478 on the 5th, and 668 on the 6th. This averages to 544.7 cases per day.

Among these, the daily average of locally transmitted confirmed cases, a key indicator for adjusting the 'social distancing' level, was recorded at 523.7, exceeding the upper limit of level 2.5 (nationwide 400-500 or more).

Regarding major outbreak cases, a total of 201 confirmed cases were reported in 12 cities and provinces related to a cluster infection at a sister church touring meeting. The cumulative confirmed cases related to a Busan city entertainment bar increased to 302. Additionally, new cluster infection cases were confirmed at a church in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul (cumulative 12), a call center in Jung-gu, Ulsan (23), and a church in Dangjin-si, Chungnam (17).

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