437 New COVID-19 Cases as of 6 PM... 500s Expected Tomorrow

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] Amid the intensifying spread of COVID-19 in South Korea, new confirmed cases continued nationwide on the 25th.

According to the quarantine authorities, Seoul city, and other local governments, from midnight to 6 p.m. on that day, the total number of newly confirmed COVID-19 cases nationwide was 437. This is 56 fewer than the 493 cases recorded at the same time the previous day.

By region, 301 cases (68.9%) were reported in the Seoul metropolitan area, and 136 cases (31.1%) in non-metropolitan areas.

By city and province, the numbers were: Gyeonggi 151, Seoul 141, Gyeongnam 26, Busan and Gyeongbuk 24 each, Chungbuk 13, Ulsan 12, Gwangju 11, Incheon and Gangwon 9 each, Daegu 6, Daejeon and Chungnam 4 each, and Jeonbuk 3. No confirmed cases were reported in Sejong, Jeonnam, or Jeju on that day.

By midnight, when the tally closes, the number of new confirmed cases is expected to rise to the 500s.

Even if the number of confirmed cases decreases, it is difficult to say the spread has slowed, as the numbers are affected by reduced testing on weekends and holidays. On the previous day, 151 cases were added after 6 p.m., bringing the final total to 644.

With infections continuing nationwide recently, daily confirmed cases have remained in the 600 to 700 range. The average daily number of new confirmed cases over the past week from the 18th of this month to the previous day was approximately 681.9. Among these, the average daily number of locally transmitted cases, a key indicator for adjusting social distancing levels, was about 653.

Confirmed cases have occurred in various everyday settings such as restaurants, workplaces, schools, and entertainment bars. At a dance academy in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 17 additional cases tested positive following the first patient on the 22nd of last month. At a restaurant in Hanam-si, Gyeonggi, 3 more cases were confirmed, bringing the cumulative total to 28. Related to an entertainment bar in Jinju-si, Gyeongnam, 16 additional cases were confirmed, totaling 17. One more case was added on a naval ship where a cluster of cases recently occurred, increasing the cumulative total to 34.

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