As of 9 PM, 585 New COVID-19 Cases Nationwide... 176 in Seoul

Citizens visiting the screening clinic set up at Songpa-gu Public Health Center in Seoul on the 23rd are undergoing tests. Photo by Jin-Hyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Tae-min] As the spread of COVID-19 in South Korea intensifies, new confirmed cases continued nationwide on the 24th.

According to health authorities, Seoul city, and other local governments, from midnight to 9 p.m. on the same day, a total of 585 new COVID-19 positive cases were reported nationwide. This is 137 fewer than the 722 cases recorded at the same time the previous day.

By region, the metropolitan area accounted for 373 cases (63.8%), and non-metropolitan areas accounted for 212 cases (36.2%). By city and province, Gyeonggi had 182 cases, Seoul 176, Gyeongnam 40, Ulsan 39, Busan 37, Gyeongbuk 24, Incheon 15, Chungbuk 14, Daegu 13, Gangwon 10, Jeonnam 9, Gwangju 8, Jeonbuk 7, Daejeon 6, Chungnam 3, and Jeju 2. Among the 17 cities and provinces nationwide, Sejong has yet to report any confirmed cases.

Since there is still time until midnight when the tally closes, the number of new confirmed cases announced at 0:00 on the 25th is expected to increase to the mid-600s, possibly approaching 700. Even if the number of confirmed cases decreases slightly, this is due to a reduction in testing over the weekend and does not indicate a slowdown in the spread.

The previous day, 63 additional cases were reported after 9 p.m., bringing the final total to 785.

With numerous large and small infections nationwide, the '4th wave' is gradually becoming a reality. From the 18th to the 24th of this month, the daily new confirmed cases were 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. 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.

As of the afternoon of the same day, the number of confirmed cases related to a senior day care center in Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi, increased to 53. Most of the confirmed cases had been vaccinated, but it is presumed they were infected before the vaccine took effect. In Gyeongnam, additional infection cases linked to restaurants, acquaintances gatherings, senior day care centers, and academies were reported.

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