From 500 to around 100 in four days... But sporadic cluster infections remain 'extremely risky'

A COVID-19 cluster infection occurred at a call center on the 11th floor of the Korea Building in Sindorim-dong. On the 10th, quarantine officials from Guro-gu operated a screening clinic for residents in front of the Korea Building in Guro-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy reporters Choi Dae-yeol and Kim Heung-soon] Although the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is rapidly spreading across Europe, including Italy, France, Germany, and Spain, beyond Iran, South Korea seems to be stepping back from the vortex of the infectious disease pandemic. This is because the number of daily new confirmed cases has significantly decreased for four consecutive days. Nevertheless, there is a coexistence of situations where tension cannot be relaxed, as cases are increasing mainly in the Seoul metropolitan area, home to 26 million people, and confirmed cases are occurring in places where contact among crowds is inevitable, such as hospitals and call centers.

Four Consecutive Days of 'Hundreds' Changing
Aligned with the Declining Trend in Daegu

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters announced on the 10th at midnight that the number of confirmed domestic cases increased by 131 from the previous day’s midnight to 7,513. It is the first time in 14 days since the 25th of last month (130 cases) that the daily additional cases have dropped to the hundreds. The daily confirmed cases have decreased for four consecutive days, changing the leading digit: from 518 on the 6th, to 483 on the 7th, 367 on the 8th, 248 on the 9th, and 131 on this day.

This reflects the trend of decreasing patient numbers in Daegu, which accounted for about 80% of the nationwide additional confirmed cases centered around the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in Daegu. The daily confirmed cases in Daegu also dropped from 390 on the 7th, to 297 on the 8th, 190 on the 9th, and 92 on this day. Kim Kang-lip, the first chief coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, said, "The situation in Daegu is somewhat under control," but added, "This is a time when we must concentrate nationwide capabilities and make further efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19."

Table = Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters

Call Center Cluster Infection
'Detonator' Stirring in the 26 Million Seoul Metropolitan Area
Concerns of Amplification Due to High Floating Population

In the Seoul metropolitan area, including Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon, where about 26 million people?more than half of the national population?live, the number of patients is increasing again due to sporadic cluster infections. As of 11 a.m. on this day, 47 confirmed cases related to the Ace Insurance call center in Guro-gu, Seoul, were partially reflected in the results.

In Seoul, the number of patients increased by 11 over 24 hours from midnight the previous day, reaching a total of 141. Gyeonggi Province also recorded 11 additional cases, totaling 163. Incheon had no new cases for three days since the 6th but added 4 cases in one day. Since not all confirmed cases related to the Guro-gu call center have been officially counted by the quarantine authorities, the number of patients is expected to increase further in the metropolitan area over the next few days.

The authorities are concerned that although it is not a large-scale outbreak like that among Shincheonji followers, the metropolitan area’s high floating population could create another 'amplification cluster.' Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said, "Small-scale outbreaks are sporadically occurring around contacts of confirmed cases in the metropolitan area," and added, "We are focusing on preventing further transmission by strengthening epidemiological investigations and quarantine measures."

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