By 6 PM, 3,303 Confirmed Nationwide... 5,000-Level Expected

On the 30th, Seoul Jongno-gu Boshingak displayed a notice related to the 'Jeya's Bell' ringing ceremony at Boshingak, announcing that Seoul City will hold the ringing ceremony of the 'Jeya's Bell' at Boshingak online again this year without an on-site event to prevent the spread of COVID-19, following last year. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] On the 30th, COVID-19 cases surged nationwide.

According to the quarantine authorities, Seoul city, and other local governments, from midnight to 6 p.m. on that day, a total of 3,303 people tested positive for COVID-19 across 17 cities and provinces nationwide. This is 54 more than the previous day.

Since there is still time until midnight when the tally closes, the number of new confirmed cases announced as of 0:00 on the 31st is expected to increase further.

Due to strengthened quarantine measures limiting private gatherings to 4 people in the metropolitan area and 6 people in non-metropolitan areas, the recent outbreak has shifted to a declining trend. Since the 18th, a strengthened social distancing policy has been implemented nationwide, limiting private gatherings to 4 people and restricting business hours of restaurants and other establishments to 9 p.m.

The government is scheduled to announce on the 31st whether to extend the current social distancing measures.

On this day, 2,086 new cases (63.2%) were reported in the metropolitan area, and 1,117 cases (36.8%) in non-metropolitan areas.

By city and province: Seoul 1,102, Gyeonggi 737, Busan 255, Incheon 247, Gyeongnam 199, Chungnam 131, Daegu 118, Gyeongbuk 101, Gangwon 70, Gwangju 68, Jeonbuk 67, Chungbuk 58, Jeonnam 57, Daejeon 51, Ulsan 21, Jeju 16, and Sejong 5.

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