412 New COVID-19 Cases Reported by 6 PM... 500s Expected Tomorrow

52 Fewer Cases Than Same Time Previous Day
Seoul Metropolitan Area Cases Exceed 80% Share

On the 23rd, when the number of new COVID-19 cases recorded 645, returning to the 600s for the first time in 10 days, citizens who visited the screening clinic set up at Songpa District Office in Seoul are waiting to get tested. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] As of 6 p.m. on the 27th, 412 new domestic COVID-19 cases were confirmed.

According to the quarantine authorities, Seoul city, and other local governments, from midnight to 6 p.m. on this day, 412 people nationwide tested positive for COVID-19. This is 52 fewer than the 464 cases recorded at the same time the previous day. The decrease in testing during the weekend and holidays has led to a slight reduction in the interim confirmed cases.

By region, the metropolitan area still accounted for a high proportion of confirmed cases. Seoul reported 164 cases, Gyeonggi 151, and Incheon 18, with over 80% of cases coming from the metropolitan area. This was followed by Busan with 20 cases, Gangwon 16, Gyeongnam 11, Gwangju 7, Daejeon and Chungnam 6 each, Chungbuk 5, Daegu 3, Ulsan and Jeju 2 each, and Gyeongbuk 1. No additional cases were reported in Sejong, Jeonbuk, or Jeonnam.

Since there is still time until midnight when the tally closes, the number of new confirmed cases announced as of 0 a.m. on the 28th is expected to be in the 500s. On the previous day, 150 additional cases were reported after 6 p.m., bringing the final total to 614.

The daily new confirmed cases, which had dropped to the 300s earlier last week, have been in the 600s since midweek. Over the past week since the 21st, the average daily new confirmed cases have been about 560.

New cluster infections linked to everyday settings such as schools, academies, and gatherings of acquaintances continue nationwide. At a middle school in Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi, after one staff member tested positive on the 17th, 10 more people including other staff, students, and their families tested positive. At a private tutoring center in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, 14 cases have been confirmed since the 22nd. The cluster infection that started among native English-speaking instructors continues to spread, with over 100 confirmed cases linked to five English academies in Seongnam, Bucheon, Goyang, and Uijeongbu areas in Gyeonggi.

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