70,000 Confirmed Cases by 6 PM... Omicron Wave Continues to Decline

Published 20 Apr.2022 19:09(KST)

On the 20th, the temporary COVID-19 screening site at Seoul Plaza was quiet. The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to dismantle the temporary screening site at Seoul Plaza on the 22nd and create "Seoul Plaza for Reading Books" starting from the 23rd, which is "World Book Day," and operate an "Open Outdoor Library." Visitors will be able to freely read books borrowed from the Seoul Library as well as books placed on the mobile bookshelves at Seoul Plaza. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jin-ho] The Omicron variant outbreak is showing a declining trend.

According to Seoul City and other local governments on the 20th, from midnight to 6 p.m. on that day, 70,528 people nationwide in 17 cities and provinces were confirmed positive for COVID-19. This is 22,527 fewer than the same time the previous day (93,055 people).

Compared to the figure at the same time one week ago on the 13th (124,807 people), it is 54,279 fewer, and compared to two weeks ago on the 6th (178,587 people), it is 108,059 fewer, showing a clear downward trend. The Wednesday 6 p.m. tally falling below 100,000 is the first time in nine weeks since February 16 (77,249 people).

As of 6 p.m. that day, new confirmed cases were 33,133 (47.0%) in the metropolitan area and 37,395 (53.0%) in non-metropolitan areas. By region, the numbers were: Gyeonggi 17,047, Seoul 11,900, Gyeongbuk 4,848, Gyeongnam 4,032, Incheon 4,186, Jeonbuk 3,905, Jeonnam 3,723, Daegu 3,351, Gwangju 3,106, Chungnam 3,083, Gangwon 2,333, Busan 2,153, Daejeon 1,995, Ulsan 1,947, Chungbuk 1,277, Jeju 1,010, and Sejong 132.