New COVID-19 Cases Lowest in 3 Weeks... Weekend Turning Point from Call Centers and Sejong Cheongsa

[Asia Economy Reporters Choi Dae-yeol and Kim Heung-soon] On the 13th, the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in South Korea increased by 110. This is the lowest daily figure in 20 days since 190 cases were reported on the 22nd of last month. Among the confirmed cases, the number of people who were declared recovered increased by 177 compared to the previous day. This is the first time that the number of recovered patients has exceeded the number of new confirmed cases. According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters for COVID-19, as of midnight on this day, the total cumulative number of confirmed cases reached 7,979. In Daegu, where the highest number of patients nationwide has been reported, the daily confirmed cases dropped to 92 on the 10th and further decreased to 61 on this day. Other regions also reported fewer than 10 new cases, creating a somewhat calming atmosphere.

110 New Cases Today, Lowest Since February 22
Cumulative Cases Remain in the 7,000s for 6 Consecutive Days
Signs of Stabilization but Vigilance Over Sporadic Cluster Infections

Nevertheless, double-digit cases were reported in Seoul (13 cases) and Sejong (17 cases), prompting health authorities to remain vigilant. This weekend, the results of diagnostic tests for those related to cluster infections appearing outside Daegu will be a turning point to determine whether secondary and tertiary transmissions have occurred.

The cumulative number of confirmed cases in South Korea entered the 7,000s on the 8th with 7,313 cases and has remained in that range for six consecutive days. Compared to early this month, when cases increased by about 1,000 daily, the rate of outbreak has clearly slowed. While health authorities and local governments have been consistently conducting 12,000 to 13,000 diagnostic tests daily over the past four days, the positivity rate remains low at 1-2%. The positivity rate has dropped to the 1% range for the first time in two weeks since January 25 (1.6%). When the positivity rate, based on additional cases relative to those tested, decreases, a similar pattern of declining confirmed cases tends to follow after a few days.

The government also assessed that the patient situation has improved compared to before. However, it emphasized the need to focus on blocking sporadic cluster infections rather than just the trend of confirmed cases, maintaining a high level of alertness. Yoon Tae-ho, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters' quarantine team, stated, "Even if the daily number of patients exceeds 200-300, it does not mean that COVID-19 will suddenly explode or become a pandemic, and even if it drops to the 100s, we cannot be optimistic as if the outbreak is over. We must consider many variables such as long-term trends, diagnostic testing status, and the possibility of secondary and tertiary infections due to sporadic cluster infections."

Quarantine officials are disinfecting the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries at the Government Complex Sejong. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Currently 109 Confirmed Cases at Metropolitan Area Call Centers
Number at Sejong Government Complex Increases to 24 Including Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Officials

In Seoul, the number of patients increased due to cluster infections related to the call center in Sindorim-dong, Guro-gu, and in Sejong, infections are rising mainly among employees of the Government Sejong Complex. According to Seoul City and Guro District Office, as of this day, 1,076 people including call center employees at Guro, other workers in the Korea Building where they work, and residents have undergone diagnostic testing. Results will be released sequentially.

As of the morning of this day, 109 confirmed cases related to call centers were reported in the metropolitan area including Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon. On the 11th, 52 related patients were reported in Seoul, raising concerns among health authorities and local governments, but since then, the situation has been managed with about 10 cases per day on average. On the other hand, the Government Sejong Complex is seeing a rapid increase in patients mainly among public officials. Including cases not yet counted in official statistics, as of the morning of this day, 20 from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and one each from the Veterans Affairs, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Education, and Presidential Archives have been confirmed, totaling 24 cases.

Some of these cases were related to a Zumba dance studio in Cheonan, Chungnam, but additional patients with unclear infection routes are also emerging. Sejong City conducted diagnostic tests on 309 Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries employees up to the previous day and plans to expand testing to all employees starting this day.

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