COVID-19, 419 Cases as of 6 PM on the 19th... Expected to Reach Mid-500s Tomorrow (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Junhyung Lee] As the spread of COVID-19 continues, confirmed cases have continued nationwide on the 19th.

According to the quarantine authorities and local governments including Seoul, from midnight to 6 p.m. on the same day, a total of 419 new confirmed COVID-19 cases were recorded nationwide. This is 10 more than the 409 cases recorded at the same time the previous day.

By region, the metropolitan area accounted for 281 cases (67.1%), and non-metropolitan areas accounted for 138 cases (32.9%). By city and province, Gyeonggi had 144 cases, Seoul 116, Busan 26, Incheon 21, Ulsan 19, Gyeongnam 16, Gyeongbuk, Gangwon, and Chungnam each 15, Daegu 10, Chungbuk 9, Daejeon 7, Gwangju 4, and Jeonbuk 2. Among the 17 cities and provinces nationwide, no confirmed cases were reported in Sejong, Jeonnam, and Jeju.

Since there is still time left until midnight when the tally closes, the number of new confirmed cases announced at midnight on the 20th is expected to increase further to the mid-500s.

The previous day, 123 cases increased after 6 p.m., closing at a final count of 532. The somewhat lower number of cases in the interim tally on this day, following the previous day, appears to reflect the impact of reduced testing during the weekend and holidays.

The number of confirmed cases has surged sharply this month, already entering the early stage of the '4th wave.' Until last month, the daily new confirmed cases fluctuated between 300 and 400, but then increased to the 500s, 600s, and even reached the 700s.

From the 13th to this day, the daily new confirmed cases for the week were 542 → 731 → 698 → 673 → 658 → 672 → 532. This averages to about 644 cases per day. The daily average of locally transmitted confirmed cases, a key indicator for adjusting the 'social distancing' level, is 622. This exceeds the upper limit of the 2.5 level 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.