As of 6 PM, 493 New COVID-19 Cases Nationwide... 146 in Seoul

Citizens waiting to be tested at a screening clinic set up at Songpa-gu Public Health Center in Seoul on the 23rd. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Tae-min] As the spread of COVID-19 continues to intensify domestically, new confirmed cases were reported nationwide on the 24th as well.

According to the quarantine authorities, Seoul city, and other local governments, from midnight to 6 p.m. on that day, a total of 493 new confirmed COVID-19 cases were recorded nationwide. This is 160 fewer than the 653 cases recorded at the same time the previous day.

Looking at the regions where confirmed cases were reported, 314 cases (63.7%) were in the metropolitan area, and 179 cases (36.3%) were in non-metropolitan areas. By city and province, there were 157 cases in Gyeonggi, 146 in Seoul, 40 in Gyeongnam, 37 in Busan, 27 in Ulsan, 23 in Gyeongbuk, 11 each in Incheon and Daegu, 10 in Chungbuk, 8 in Jeonnam, 7 in Gwangju, 5 each in Daejeon and Gangwon, and 2 each in Chungnam, Jeonbuk, and Jeju. Among the 17 cities and provinces nationwide, no confirmed cases have yet been reported in Sejong.

Since there is still time until midnight when the tally closes, the number of new confirmed cases announced at midnight on the 25th is expected to increase to the late 500s or possibly reach the 600s. However, even if the number of confirmed cases decreases compared to the previous day, this is due to a reduction in testing over the weekend, so it is difficult to conclude that the spread is slowing. On the previous day, 132 additional cases were reported after 6 p.m., bringing the final total to 785.

From the 18th to the 24th, the number of new confirmed cases over the past week was 671 → 532 → 549 → 731 → 735 → 797 → 785, averaging 685.7 cases per day.

Among these, the key indicator for adjusting the 'social distancing' level, the daily average of locally transmitted cases, reached approximately 659.1. Over the past three days, this figure has shown a steep upward trend at 625.4, 640.6, and 659.1 respectively.

Major infection cases include family and acquaintances gatherings, workplaces, daycare centers, saunas, and other everyday locations where confirmed cases have been reported consecutively. At a sauna in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, a total of 13 people including employees, users, and their families tested positive, and an epidemiological investigation is underway.

The number of confirmed cases related to a senior day care center located in Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi, increased to a total of 53 as of the afternoon of that day. Most of the confirmed cases had been vaccinated, but it is presumed they were infected before the vaccine's effect took hold.

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