[3rd Report] 1,605 New Confirmed Cases, Highest on Sunday... Concerns Over Chuseok Resurgence

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] As COVID-19 spreads again mainly in the Seoul metropolitan area, the number of new confirmed cases on the 20th was recorded in the early 1600s.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced that as of midnight on this day, 1,605 new confirmed cases were added, bringing the total to 287,536. This is 305 fewer than the previous day (1,910), but it is the highest number of Sunday cases (announced on Monday) since the domestic COVID-19 outbreak began.

Looking at the number of Sunday confirmed cases over the past four weeks, the figures were 1,485 → 1,375 → 1,433 → 1,605, maintaining the 1,300?1,400 range for the previous three weeks but sharply rising to the 1,600s this week. This is the highest number of Sunday cases due to the re-spread centered on the Seoul metropolitan area.

In particular, with the Chuseok holiday leading to large-scale population movement, there are concerns about a nationwide resurgence after the holiday. Regarding the infection routes of new confirmed cases on this day, 1,577 were locally transmitted and 28 were imported from overseas.

The fourth wave, which began in early July, has continued for more than two and a half months. The daily confirmed cases have been in four digits for 76 consecutive days since July 7 (1,211 cases). Looking at the new confirmed cases over the past week from the 14th to this day, the daily numbers were 1,495 → 2,780 → 1,942 → 2,008 → 2,087 → 1,910 → 1,605.

The number of deaths increased by 5 from the previous day, totaling 2,409. The domestic average fatality rate is 0.84%. The number of critically ill patients is 332, one less than the previous day (333).

The number of tests conducted at screening clinics for suspected patients and others on the previous day was 30,477, which is 3,406 fewer than the previous day’s 33,883. It is also 17,183 fewer than the 47,660 tests conducted on the previous weekday.

Separately, the total number of tests conducted at temporary screening clinics nationwide was 44,756. So far, the total number of COVID-19 diagnostic tests conducted at regular screening clinics in Korea is 14,050,975, of which 287,536 tested positive and 12,809,907 tested negative. The remaining 953,532 tests are awaiting results.

As of midnight on this day, the cumulative domestic positivity rate is 2.05% (287,536 out of 14,050,975 tests).

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