528 COVID-19 Cases Confirmed by 6 PM, 231 in Seoul... 600s Expected Tomorrow

Citizens are undergoing specimen tests at a temporary screening clinic set up in Seoul Station Plaza. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seon-ae] As the spread of COVID-19 continues domestically, new confirmed cases were reported across the country on the 19th as well.

According to the quarantine authorities, Seoul city, and other local governments, from midnight to 6 p.m. on the day, a total of 528 new confirmed COVID-19 cases were recorded nationwide. This is the same number as the count at the same time the previous day (528 cases).

Looking at the regions where confirmed cases were reported, 405 cases (76.7%) were in the Seoul metropolitan area, and 123 cases (23.3%) were in non-metropolitan areas.

By city and province, there were 231 cases in Seoul, 165 in Gyeonggi, 32 in Gyeongbuk, 17 in Busan, 15 in Chungnam, 13 in Chungbuk, 9 in Incheon, 8 each in Ulsan, Gangwon, and Gyeongnam, 6 in Gwangju, 4 each in Daegu and Jeonbuk, 3 in Jeju, 2 each in Daejeon and Sejong, and 1 in Jeonnam. Confirmed cases were reported in all 17 cities and provinces nationwide.

Since there is still time left until midnight when the count closes, the number of new confirmed cases announced at 0:00 on the 20th is expected to increase further, reaching the 600s. On the previous day, 126 cases were added after 6 p.m., closing at a final count of 654 cases.

Looking at the recent pattern of confirmed cases, various cluster infections have been occurring across the country, causing the daily number of confirmed cases to fluctuate between 500 and 700. From the 13th to the 19th, the daily new confirmed cases for the past week were 715 → 747 → 681 → 610 → 619 → 528 → 654, averaging about 651 cases per day.

Among these, the key indicator for adjusting the 'social distancing' level, the daily average of locally transmitted cases, stands at 628, which falls within the Level 2.5 range (nationwide 400 to 500 or more cases).

Major new infection cases include cluster outbreaks in everyday settings such as workplaces and schools. A total of 34 people were infected related to acquaintances and family gatherings in the Seoul metropolitan area, and 16 people tested positive related to family and school clusters in Namdong-gu, Incheon. In non-metropolitan areas, cluster infections were confirmed related to two hot spring baths in Asan city, Chungnam (cumulative 20 cases), and an insurance company in Cheongju, Chungbuk (10 cases).

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