540 COVID-19 Cases Confirmed by 6 PM... 600s Expected Tomorrow

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] As the spread of COVID-19 continues, confirmed cases surged nationwide on the 16th as well.

According to the quarantine authorities and local governments including Seoul City, from midnight to 6 p.m. on that day, the total number of new confirmed cases nationwide was counted at 540. This is 20 fewer than the 560 cases recorded at the same time the previous day.

The regions with confirmed cases were 380 in the metropolitan area and 160 in non-metropolitan areas. By city and province, Seoul had 197 cases, Gyeonggi 161, Gyeongnam 32, Busan 30, Gyeongbuk 27, Incheon 22, Ulsan 16, Jeonbuk 13, Daegu, Gangwon, and Chungbuk each 10, Daejeon and Chungnam each 4, and Gwangju and Jeonnam each 2.

Among the 17 cities and provinces nationwide, Sejong and Jeju have not yet reported any confirmed cases.

Since there is still time until midnight when the tally closes, the number of new confirmed cases to be announced as of 0 a.m. on the 17th is expected to reach the mid-to-high 600s. The previous day saw an increase of 113 cases after 6 p.m., closing at 673.

Meanwhile, from the 10th to that day, the number of new confirmed cases over one week recorded daily were 677 → 614 → 587 → 542 → 731 → 698 → 673, averaging about 646 cases per day.

The daily average of locally transmitted confirmed cases, a key indicator for adjusting social distancing levels, was 625.7, exceeding the level 2.5 criteria (nationwide 400 to 500 or more, or rapid patient increase such as doubling).

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