1170 New COVID-19 Cases Nationwide by 6 PM... 46 Fewer Than Yesterday

On the 9th, citizens are lining up to get tested at a temporary screening clinic in front of Seoul City Hall. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] As the spark of the 4th wave of COVID-19 continues to burn, new confirmed cases were reported nationwide on the 9th as well.

According to the quarantine authorities, Seoul city, and other local governments, from midnight to 6 p.m. on that day, a total of 1,170 new confirmed COVID-19 cases were recorded nationwide. This is 46 fewer than the 1,216 cases recorded at the same time the previous day. Typically, due to a decrease in testing on weekends and holidays, the number of confirmed cases tends to be relatively low until the beginning of the week and then increases from Wednesday onwards, showing a repeated pattern. In fact, 1,170 cases are 283 more than the mid-day count of 887 on Monday (the 2nd) of last week.

Looking at the regions where new confirmed cases were reported, the metropolitan area accounted for 707 cases (60.4%), and non-metropolitan areas accounted for 463 cases (39.6%). By city and province, Gyeonggi had 358 cases, Seoul 303, Gyeongnam 85, Daegu 74, Busan 59, Gyeongbuk 56, Incheon 46, Chungbuk 37, Daejeon 32, Chungnam 30, Gangwon 22, Jeonbuk 19, Jeonnam 17, Gwangju 13, Ulsan 12, and Jeju 7. 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 at midnight on the 10th is expected to increase to the 1,400 range, possibly around 1,500. On the previous day, 276 cases were added after 6 p.m., closing at a final count of 1,492.

Recently, the 4th wave of COVID-19 in Korea has been spreading to various non-metropolitan areas, making the nationwide pattern more distinct. The daily confirmed cases have remained in four digits for 34 consecutive days since the 7th of last month (1,212 cases), and the 35th day will be on the 10th. Looking at the daily new confirmed cases over the past week from the 3rd to the 9th, the numbers fluctuated between 1,200 and 1,800, recording 1,200 → 1,725 → 1,775 → 1,704 → 1,823 → 1,729 → 1,492. The daily average over the week was about 1,635 cases, with the average number of locally transmitted cases reaching 1,580 per day.

Regarding major cluster infection cases, 17 people, including employees and users, were confirmed positive in connection with a sauna in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. In Nonsan-si, Chungnam, 7 people including children, staff, and family members at a daycare center tested positive. In Gwangyang-si, Jeonnam, a total of 12 people were confirmed, mainly visitors to a water play facility and attendees of family gatherings. In addition, new infection cases have been reported in workplaces, restaurants, markets, indoor sports facilities, hospitals, and other places.

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