2988 COVID-19 Cases Confirmed Nationwide by 6 PM... 315 Fewer Than Yesterday

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seon-ae] Even on the 31st, the last day of 2021 and the second week since the strengthened 'social distancing' measures were implemented, COVID-19 confirmed cases occurred across the country.

According to the quarantine authorities and local governments including Seoul City, from midnight to 6 p.m. on that day, a total of 2,988 confirmed cases tested positive for COVID-19 in 17 cities and provinces nationwide.

This is 315 fewer than the 3,303 cases recorded at the same time the previous day.

Due to the recent decrease in the scale of the COVID-19 outbreak, it is 1,188 fewer compared to the 4,176 cases recorded at the same time a week ago on the 24th.

Since there is still time until midnight when the tally closes, the number of new confirmed cases to be announced on January 1, the first day of the new year, is expected to increase further.

Since the quarantine measures limiting private gatherings to 6 people in the metropolitan area and 8 people in non-metropolitan areas were implemented on the 6th, the number of new confirmed cases has turned to a downward trend.

From the 18th, more strengthened social distancing measures have been implemented, reducing the limit on private gatherings nationwide to 4 people and restricting restaurant and cafe operating hours to 9 p.m.

The government announced that it will extend the current social distancing measures for two weeks, applying them until January 16 next year. On that day, 1,926 cases (64.5%) were from the metropolitan area and 1,062 cases (35.5%) were from non-metropolitan areas.

By city and province, there were 972 cases in Seoul, 721 in Gyeonggi, 233 in Incheon, 204 in Busan, 141 in Gyeongnam, 111 in Gyeongbuk, 109 each in Daegu and Chungnam, 86 in Gwangju, 69 in Chungbuk, 57 in Gangwon, 52 in Jeonbuk, 42 in Jeonnam, 40 in Daejeon, 21 in Jeju, 16 in Ulsan, and 5 in Sejong.

Confirmed cases were reported in all 17 cities and provinces. The fourth domestic wave, which began in early July, has continued for nearly six months.

From the 25th for one week, the daily new confirmed cases were 5,840 → 5,416 → 4,205 → 3,865 → 5,408 → 5,035 → 4,875, averaging about 4,949 cases per day.

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