Despite Strengthened Quarantine Measures... Another Record High of '1615 Cases'

Wednesday with no weekend effect, record-high cases
New record in four days... Over 1,000 cases again in the Seoul metropolitan area
Balloon effect spreading with 'out-of-town nightlife' in non-metropolitan areas

On the 14th, when the highest record was broken with 1,615 new COVID-19 confirmed cases, citizens visiting the screening clinic set up at Gangnam-gu Public Health Center in Seoul were waiting to get tested. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee, Military Specialist Reporter Yang Nak-gyu] The number of new domestic COVID-19 cases reached a record high again, with 1,615 cases reported in a single day. As the number of confirmed cases in the metropolitan area exceeded 1,000 and rapidly spread to non-metropolitan areas, the quarantine authorities strengthened social distancing measures in non-metropolitan regions.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency announced on the 14th at midnight that the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases increased by 1,615 from the previous day to 171,911. This is 237 more cases than the previous record of 1,378 set just four days ago on the 10th. Of the new confirmed cases, 1,568 were locally transmitted and 47 were imported. The 'weekend effect,' where the number of diagnostic tests decreases somewhat on weekends, disappeared, causing a surge in confirmed cases again.

Notably, 1,179 of the locally transmitted cases occurred in the metropolitan area. This is the second time the metropolitan area has reported over 1,000 cases, following the 10th. The proportion of metropolitan cases, which seemed to be decreasing slightly, rose again to 75%.

The problem is that the rapid spread suggests a high possibility of further increases in confirmed cases. The reproduction number for the week of July 4-10 was 1.24. Authorities previously predicted that if the reproduction number rises to the 1.71 level observed in the previous wave, daily new cases could reach 2,140 by late this month.

The number of new COVID-19 cases reached a record high of 1,615 as of midnight on the 14th. Citizens are getting tested at the Jung-gu temporary screening center set up in Seoul Station Plaza. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

The quarantine authorities are also on high alert. While the metropolitan area is under the highest level 4 social distancing, low-intensity measures are in place in non-metropolitan areas. This has led to a balloon effect such as 'expedition nightlife,' causing the spread in non-metropolitan areas to intensify. The number of confirmed cases in non-metropolitan areas more than doubled from 178 on the 7th to 389 on this day within a week.

From the 15th, authorities decided to further strengthen social distancing in non-metropolitan areas. Gwangju, Daegu, Ulsan, Gyeongnam, and Gangwon, currently under level 1, will be upgraded to the new level 2. Chungbuk was preemptively raised to level 2 from the 14th, and Chungnam, Daejeon, Busan, and Jeju are already under level 2.

However, authorities decided to maintain the current level 1 social distancing in Sejong, Jeonbuk, Jeonnam, and Gyeongbuk, as the spread is not yet significant. Except for Sejong, these regions currently have confirmed cases at about half the threshold for level 2 elevation.

Some local governments apply additional quarantine measures beyond the designated social distancing levels, considering local quarantine situations.

Regarding private gatherings, Sejong (level 1), Daejeon and Chungbuk (level 2) allow up to 4 people; Ulsan and Jeju (level 2) allow up to 6 people; and Gyeongbuk, Jeonbuk, and Jeonnam (level 1) allow up to 8 people. Under the current social distancing guidelines, level 1 has no limit on private gathering sizes, while level 2 allows up to 8 people.

Additionally, Daejeon, Sejong, Gwangju, Busan, and Gyeongnam have suspended incentives such as exemptions from private gathering limits for those who have completed vaccination.

As social distancing level 4 is applied, schools in Seoul have switched to remote classes. On the morning of the 14th, a teacher is conducting an online class in a 5th-grade classroom at Muhak Elementary School in Seongdong-gu, Seoul. 2021.07.14.

From this day, schools in the metropolitan area will switch entirely to remote learning. The Ministry of Education announced that until the 25th, kindergartens, elementary, middle, high schools, special, and various schools in the metropolitan area will suspend in-person attendance and conduct full remote classes.

This year’s second half reserve forces training will also be canceled. The target group includes about 1.8 million reservists in their 1st to 6th year, all of whom will be considered to have completed their training.

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