38 New Confirmed Cases... The Capital Region Cannot Let Its Guard Down

Richway and Table Tennis Venue-Originated Nth Infection... Trend May Reverse

On the 8th, at the screening clinic set up at Gwanak-gu Public Health Center in Seoul, citizens are waiting to get tested as secondary infections related to Richway, a multi-level marketing company selling health products for the elderly, continue to spread. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in South Korea increased by 38 on the 9th. Although the number of new confirmed cases has remained in the 30s for two consecutive days, showing a slight easing of the spread compared to early this month, the situation remains tense, especially in the Seoul metropolitan area. This is because 'Nth infections' originating from the multi-level marketing company Richway in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, and a ping-pong hall in Yangcheon-gu have been confirmed, raising concerns about a possible resurgence.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced that as of midnight on the day, the total number of COVID-19 confirmed cases increased by 38 from the previous day to 11,852. The daily number of confirmed cases surged to 79 on the 28th of last month, then dropped to the 20s, and from the 1st to the 5th of this month, it recorded 30 to 40 cases for five consecutive days. On the 6th and 7th, it rose to the 50s before decreasing back to the 30s from the previous day.

The new confirmed cases were identified as a result of a chain transmission from Richway to a shelter for Chinese-Korean residents at a church in Guro-gu, and from the ping-pong hall in Yangcheon-gu to Keunnamu Church in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, and the Gwangmyeong Senior Care Center. In the case of the shelter for Chinese-Korean residents, a 64-year-old man who visited Richway was first confirmed positive, followed by eight residents of the shelter who were subsequently infected.

At the Gwangmyeong Senior Care Center, three residents and three facility workers tested positive. Among them, the first confirmed case was a woman in her 70s who reportedly attended a service at Keunnamu Church. In addition, additional confirmed cases were reported at existing cluster infection sites such as Richway, the ping-pong hall, Bucheon Coupang logistics center, and pioneering churches in the metropolitan area.

Except for three of the new patients, all cases occurred in the Seoul metropolitan area: 19 in Seoul, 3 in Incheon, and 13 in Gyeonggi Province. Domestic cases numbered 35, while imported cases were 3. By region, domestic cases included 18 in Seoul, 3 in Incheon, 12 in Gyeonggi, 1 in Chungnam, and 1 in Gyeongnam. Imported cases included 1 in Seoul, 1 in Gyeonggi, and 1 in Chungnam.

The number of patients who have been declared recovered and released from isolation reached 10,589, an increase of 26 from the previous day. The death toll rose by one to 274.

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