1413 Confirmed Cases by 9 PM, 8 Fewer Than Yesterday... Around 1600 Expected on the 16th

On the 15th, the number of new COVID-19 cases exceeded 1,600 for the second consecutive day. Citizens visiting the screening clinic at Gwangjin-gu Public Health Center in Seoul are waiting for their tests. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The fourth wave of COVID-19 has caused a surge in confirmed cases nationwide.

According to the quarantine authorities, Seoul city, and other local governments on the 15th, from midnight to 9 p.m. that day, a total of 1,413 new COVID-19 positive cases were confirmed nationwide. This is 8 fewer than the 1,421 cases recorded at the same time the previous day.

The number of confirmed cases as of 9 p.m. was 1,440 → 1,421 → 1,413 from the 13th onward, marking three consecutive days in the 1,400 range. Looking at the regions where confirmed cases were reported after midnight that day, the metropolitan area accounted for 1,082 cases (76.6%), and non-metropolitan areas accounted for 331 cases (23.4%).

Confirmed cases were reported in all 17 cities and provinces nationwide. The number of confirmed cases by city/province is as follows: Seoul 570, Gyeonggi 418, Incheon 94, Gyeongnam 65, Busan 49, Daejeon 39, Chungnam 38, Daegu 29, Gangwon 27, Gwangju 20, Gyeongbuk and Jeonbuk 12 each, Chungbuk and Jeju 10 each, Ulsan 9, Sejong 6, and Jeonnam 5.

Since there is still time until midnight when the tally closes, the number of new confirmed cases announced at midnight on the 16th is expected to increase to around 1,600. The previous day saw an increase of 179 cases after 9 p.m., closing at a final count of 1,600.

The number of new confirmed cases has been in the four-digit range for nine consecutive days. This means the four-digit record will continue for 10 consecutive days until the 16th. Over the past week from the 8th to the 15th, the daily new confirmed cases were 1,316 → 1,378 → 1,324 → 1,100 → 1,150 → 1,615 → 1,600, averaging about 1,355 cases per day.

Among these, the average daily number of locally transmitted cases is about 1,303. The daily average of local cases first rose to the 1,000 range on the 11th (1,081 cases) and has recorded over 1,500 cases for two consecutive days recently. In particular, Seoul’s daily average number of confirmed cases has soared to 638 on the 13th, significantly exceeding the level 4 threshold (389 cases or more).

Recent trends show cluster infections occurring in various places such as convenience facilities, schools, and entertainment establishments. At a sauna located in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, one facility worker was first confirmed positive on the 11th, followed by 7 and 14 additional cases on the 13th and 14th respectively, bringing the cumulative total to 22 cases. Regarding the cluster infection at a daycare center in Dong-gu, Ulsan, 10 more cases were added, totaling 58 cases.

Additionally, at an entertainment establishment in Cheonan, Chungnam, 9 more infections were confirmed, increasing the cumulative total to 31 cases.

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