1442 New COVID-19 Cases by 6 PM... Will the 'Record High' Be Broken Again After One Week? (Update)

1442 Cases by 6 PM 'Highest Ever'
Non-Capital Areas Also Reach 400s by 6 PM

On the 20th, as the spread of COVID-19 continues, citizens are lining up for testing at the screening clinic of Mapo-gu Public Health Center in Seoul. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight, the daily new confirmed cases were 1,278. The cumulative number of confirmed cases stands at 180,481 (including 10,976 imported cases). Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] As the weekend effect ends, the number of new COVID-19 cases in South Korea is surging. As of 6 p.m. on the 20th, the newly confirmed cases totaled 1,442, setting a record high for the same time of day. Unlike the early stages of the 4th wave, cases are pouring in not only from the metropolitan area but also from non-metropolitan regions.

According to the quarantine authorities, Seoul city, and other local governments, from midnight to 6 p.m. on the same day, 1,442 new COVID-19 positive cases were confirmed nationwide. This is an increase of 455 cases compared to 987 cases at the same time the previous day. This is the highest figure recorded in the 6 p.m. interim tally. Accordingly, the total number of new cases reported at midnight, which will be announced the next day, is highly likely to break the all-time record.

As of 6 p.m., the number of confirmed cases has steadily hovered around 1,000 since it first rose to the 1,000 range on the 6th of this month (1,006 cases). Due to the weekend effect and other factors, the number slightly dropped to the 900 range again on the 10th (922 cases), but on the 13th, it rose close to 1,300 cases. On the 13th, when 1,288 cases were recorded at 6 p.m., more than 300 additional positive cases were confirmed by midnight, setting a new record of 1,615 cases.

By region, the metropolitan area accounted for 1,015 cases, making up 70.4% of the total confirmed cases, while non-metropolitan areas recorded 427 cases, or 29.6%. While the spread continues in the metropolitan area, the rapid increase in cases in non-metropolitan areas is causing growing concern. This is the first time since the '4th wave' that non-metropolitan cases have reached the 400 range in the 6 p.m. tally. It is also the first time in a week since the 13th (1,017 cases) that metropolitan area cases have exceeded 1,000.

Seoul recorded 497 cases, Gyeonggi 413 cases, and Incheon 105 cases, all three-digit figures in the metropolitan area. Following these were Busan with 95 cases, Gyeongnam 74 cases, Daejeon 50 cases, Gangwon 37 cases, Daegu 33 cases, Chungnam 30 cases, Gyeongbuk 24 cases, Jeonnam 19 cases, Gwangju and Jeju with 16 cases each, Chungbuk 13 cases, Jeonbuk 11 cases, Ulsan 7 cases, and Sejong 2 cases. All 17 cities and provinces nationwide had additional confirmed cases by 6 p.m.

With time remaining until the final tally is completed at midnight, the number of new confirmed cases announced at 0 a.m. on the 21st is expected to rise to around 1,700. In this case, the existing record will be broken again within a week.

The daily number of new confirmed cases has continued to record four-digit figures for two consecutive weeks since the 7th. Including the 21st, this marks 15 consecutive days of 1,000-plus cases.

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