605 New COVID-19 Cases Reported by 9 PM... High 600s Expected on the 20th

On the 16th, citizens are waiting to get tested at a temporary screening clinic set up at Seoul Station Plaza. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seon-ae] On the 19th, new COVID-19 cases were reported across the country.

According to the quarantine authorities, Seoul city, and other local governments, from midnight to 9 p.m. on that day, a total of 605 new confirmed COVID-19 cases were recorded nationwide.

This is 6 more than the 599 cases recorded at the same time the previous day.

Looking at the regions where confirmed cases were reported, 444 cases (73.4%) were in the metropolitan area, and 161 cases (26.6%) were in non-metropolitan areas.

By city and province, there were 244 cases in Seoul, 187 in Gyeonggi, 32 in Gyeongbuk, 23 in Ulsan, 19 in Chungnam, 17 in Busan, 15 in Gwangju, 13 each in Incheon and Chungbuk, 8 each in Daejeon, Gangwon, and Gyeongnam, 7 in Jeonbuk, 4 each in Daegu and Jeju, 2 in 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 tally closes, the number of new confirmed cases announced at 0:00 on the 20th is expected to increase further, likely reaching the mid-to-high 600s, and possibly around 700.

The previous day, 55 additional cases were reported after 9 p.m., closing at a final count of 654.

Looking at recent trends in confirmed cases, various cluster infections have been occurring nationwide, causing daily 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 daily average of locally transmitted cases, a key indicator for adjusting the 'social distancing' level, was 628, which falls within the 2.5 level range (nationwide 400 to 500 or more).

Major new infection cases include cluster outbreaks in everyday settings such as workplaces and schools.

In the metropolitan area, 34 people were infected related to acquaintances and family gatherings, 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-si, Chungnam (total 20 cases), and an insurance company in Cheongju-si, Chungbuk (10 cases), among others.

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