On the 17th, medical staff are caring for COVID-19 patients at Seoul Metropolitan Seobuk Hospital in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, as of midnight on the same day, the number of new COVID-19 cases reached 621,328, entering the 600,000 range for the first time. The number of critically ill patients was 1,159, down by 85 from the previous day (1,244). The number of deaths was 429, marking the first time it reached the 400 range. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

On the 17th, medical staff are caring for COVID-19 patients at Seoul Metropolitan Seobuk Hospital in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, as of midnight on the same day, the number of new COVID-19 cases reached 621,328, entering the 600,000 range for the first time. The number of critically ill patients was 1,159, down by 85 from the previous day (1,244). The number of deaths was 429, marking the first time it reached the 400 range. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

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[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] As the Omicron COVID-19 variant wave entered its peak phase on the 17th, more than 300,000 confirmed cases were reported nationwide by 6 p.m.


According to Seoul Metropolitan Government and other local governments, from midnight to 6 p.m. on this day, 304,739 people across 17 cities and provinces nationwide were confirmed positive for COVID-19. This is 39,445 fewer than the 344,184 cases recorded at the same time the previous day. Compared to the figure at the same time a week ago on the 10th (236,409 cases), it is 1.3 times higher.


Since the 14th, in addition to those confirmed positive by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, individuals who tested positive on professional rapid antigen tests have also been recognized as confirmed cases, causing a sharp increase in new confirmed cases recently. With time remaining until midnight when the tally closes, the number of new confirmed cases to be announced on the 18th is expected to increase further.


As of 6 p.m. on this day, new confirmed cases were 155,237 (50.9%) in the metropolitan area and 149,502 (49.1%) in non-metropolitan areas. Seoul 71,399, Gyeonggi 66,367, Gyeongnam 20,057, Busan 19,347, Incheon 17,471, Daegu 13,729, Gyeongbuk 13,674, Gwangju 13,211, Chungnam 13,090, Gangwon 10,043, Jeonnam 9,951, Daejeon 8,979, Ulsan 8,432, Jeonbuk 7,219, Chungbuk 6,498, Jeju 4,203, Sejong 169, etc.


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From the 11th for one week, the daily new confirmed cases were 282,946 → 383,684 → 350,199 → 309,775 → 362,323 → 400,711 → 621,328, averaging about 387,281 cases per day.


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