New COVID-19 Cases... 1,227 Confirmed by 9 PM, 48 More Than Yesterday

The number of new COVID-19 cases is breaking record highs day after day. The government has decided to implement a new Level 4 social distancing measure in the metropolitan area for two weeks starting from the 12th, including a strict quarantine measure allowing gatherings of only up to two people after 6 p.m. On the 9th, citizens are waiting to get tested at a temporary screening clinic set up at Seoul Station.
Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] As the spread of COVID-19 intensifies, more than 1,000 new confirmed cases have been reported for four consecutive days.

According to health authorities on the 9th, the number of new confirmed COVID-19 cases testing positive from midnight to 9 p.m. was 1,227, an increase of 48 from the previous day.

Looking at the regions where new confirmed cases were reported since midnight, 937 cases (76.4%) were in the Seoul metropolitan area, and 290 cases (23.6%) were in non-metropolitan areas.

By city and province, there were 475 cases in Seoul, 383 in Gyeonggi, 79 in Incheon, 57 in Busan, 42 in Daejeon, 31 in Gyeongnam, 28 in Chungnam, 27 in Ulsan, 20 in Gwangju, 19 in Chungbuk, 16 in Gangwon, 14 in Jeonbuk, 13 in Gyeongbuk, 12 in Daegu, 10 in Jeju, and 1 in Jeonnam.

Among the 17 cities and provinces nationwide, Sejong has not yet reported any confirmed cases.

Since there is still time left until midnight when the tally closes, the number of new confirmed cases announced as of 0:00 on the 10th is expected to increase further, approaching 1,400, with a high possibility of breaking the record. On the previous day, 137 cases were added after 9 p.m., closing at a final count of 1,316.

The spread of COVID-19 is intensifying mainly in the Seoul metropolitan area. The number of locally transmitted cases in the metropolitan area has been in the 900s for three consecutive days since the 7th (990 → 994 → 963), and the weekly average daily confirmed cases in Seoul reached 410, entering the 'social distancing' level 4 range (389 or more) for the first time.

Among major cluster infection cases, the number of confirmed cases related to the Hyundai Department Store Trade Center branch in Seoul (Gangnam-gu workplace 23rd case) increased by 15, reaching a total of 91 as of midnight. Among the confirmed cases, 76 are employees, making up the majority, but 6 visitors have also tested positive.

Additionally, in the metropolitan area, infection cases have continued at locations such as a performance hall in Jongno-gu (22 cumulative cases), a restaurant in Yeongdeungpo-gu (35 cases), an acting academy in Gangnam-gu (21 cases), an elementary school in Michuhol-gu, Incheon (41 cases), and a daycare center in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi (19 cases).

Regarding the Army Training Center in Nonsan-si, Chungnam, 77 trainees have tested positive, and an epidemiological investigation is underway.

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