Capital area COVID cases again in the 50s... Extension of strengthened quarantine measures

Group Infection at Elderly Care Facility in Dobong-gu
56 New Confirmed Cases as of Midnight Today
Emergency Situation Persists Despite Two Weeks of Strengthened Quarantine
Ongoing Spread of Sporadic Group Infections

A closure notice is posted at the entrance of Seongsim Daycare Center in Dobong-gu, Seoul, where 13 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported on the 12th.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] It was confirmed on the 12th that 13 people at an elderly care facility in Dobong-gu, Seoul, were infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The 56 newly confirmed cases on this day mostly came from the Seoul metropolitan area. After a cluster infection centered around clubs in the Itaewon area last month and multiple confirmed cases emerging at the Coupang logistics center in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, quarantine measures have been strengthened mainly in the metropolitan area for nearly two weeks, but the chain of transmission has yet to be broken. The response has been to identify contacts after confirming patients to block further infections, but the speed of transmission is outpacing efforts, putting health authorities on high alert.

Back to the 50s in Two Days... Four Times in June

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 12th, 56 new confirmed cases were recorded as of midnight. Except for one locally transmitted case in Daegu, all 55 cases were from the metropolitan area. By infection route, 13 cases were imported, including 10 detected during quarantine, and 43 were locally transmitted. The cumulative number of confirmed cases in Gyeonggi Province surpassed 1,000 following Seoul. The number of daily new confirmed cases exceeding 50, a criterion for maintaining the so-called daily life quarantine system, has occurred four times this month (on the 6th, 7th, 10th, and 12th).

The Seongsim Daycare Center in Dobong-gu is a facility that cares for elderly patients with dementia and stroke during the day. It was reported that an man in his 80s, who was confirmed positive the previous day, had visited the center, prompting diagnostic testing of staff and residents. The man's wife was also confirmed positive on the 10th. It is still unclear whether the couple transmitted the virus at the center or were infected there. The first confirmed case in this cluster, a woman in her 80s, is in critical condition, making epidemiological investigation difficult.

This is the first time a cluster infection has occurred at an elderly care facility in Seoul. Such facilities are considered high-risk because many residents are elderly or have underlying conditions with weakened immunity. There are concerns about casualties. The district office has urged anyone who recently visited the center to consult the public health center and get tested. In Daegu, a middle school student was confirmed positive, leading to the entire school being sent home and switching to remote classes.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun is delivering opening remarks at the 'COVID-19 Experts Meeting' held on the 12th at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Alarming Situation in the Metropolitan Area... Extension of Strengthened Quarantine

As sporadic cluster infections continue and infection chains are not being quickly cut off within groups, the government decided to extend the strengthened quarantine measures. Initially, the government implemented enhanced quarantine measures targeting the metropolitan area from May 29 to June 14. Although not as strict as the 'social distancing' measures in March and April, these were intended to curb increased contact and ongoing spread of infections. Public facilities such as museums were closed, and high-risk facilities with concerns about infection spread, including entertainment bars, academies, and PC rooms, were advised to refrain from operating. Metropolitan residents were also urged to limit gatherings and external activities.

These measures were temporary for about two weeks amid growing social fatigue from distancing and concerns about economic downturn. However, as time passed, not only were infection chains not broken, but sporadic cluster infections appeared to be spreading further. Particularly troublesome for health authorities are cluster infections emerging in so-called quarantine 'blind spots' such as small gatherings related to churches like pioneering churches and pastors' meetings, unregistered door-to-door sales companies like Richway, and places like the table tennis hall in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. No matter how much the rules are strengthened and enforcement increased, gaps inevitably remain.

At a briefing the previous day, Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said, "The domestic situation is very precarious and tense," adding, "(Health authorities) are discovering cases late and trying to catch up with the spread of COVID-19 patients."

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