375,000 Confirmed Cases by 6 PM... Highest Number Recorded for Same Time Slot

On the morning of the 21st of last month, citizens are receiving rapid antigen tests at the temporary COVID-19 screening center at Seoul Station, Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Hyewon]As the Omicron variant surge approaches its peak and confirmed cases rapidly increase, more than 370,000 confirmed cases were reported nationwide by 6 p.m. on the 15th. This is the largest number ever recorded as of 6 p.m. It is the first time that the number of confirmed cases has exceeded 300,000 in a mid-day tally at the same time.

According to Seoul Metropolitan Government and other local governments, from midnight to 6 p.m. on this day, 375,198 people across 17 cities and provinces nationwide were confirmed positive for COVID-19.

This is 76,532 more than the previous record of 298,666 cases at the same time on the 11th.

It is also 124,771 more than the tally of 250,427 cases at the same time on the previous day. It is 1.4 times the number from a week ago on the 8th (263,523 cases) and 2.1 times the number from two weeks ago on the 1st (176,786 cases).

The surge in confirmed cases appears to be influenced by an increase in the number of tests after a weekend decline and changes in the criteria for recognizing confirmed cases.

From the previous day, people who test positive on professional rapid antigen tests conducted at local clinics and hospitals do not need additional PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests to be confirmed positive.

Since there is still time until midnight when the tally closes, the number of new confirmed cases to be announced on the 16th is likely to increase further and surpass the record high of 383,659 cases on the 12th.

Authorities, synthesizing projections from various research institutions, expect the Omicron surge to peak at an average daily confirmed case count of 310,000 to 370,000, and predict a possible downward trend around the 23rd.

Meanwhile, as of 6 p.m. on this day, new confirmed cases were 186,235 (49.6%) in the metropolitan area and 188,963 (50.4%) in non-metropolitan areas.

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