Jungdaebon "COVID-19 Transmission Rate in Capital Area Three Times Higher Than Provinces" (Update)

Reproduction Number 0.5~0.6 in Non-Capital Areas vs. 1.2~1.8 in Capital Area
Transmission Power in Capital Area About 3 Times Higher Than Non-Capital Areas...Due to Recent Cluster Infections

At Seongsim Daycare Center in Dobong-gu, Seoul, where a cluster outbreak of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) occurred, citizens who visited the Dobong-gu Public Health Center screening clinic on the 12th are waiting to be tested. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lim Juhyung] As cluster infections of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have been concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area, the transmission rate of COVID-19 in the metropolitan area has been found to be about three times higher than that in other regions.

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH), stated at a briefing held on the 12th at the Osong Disease Control Headquarters in Chungbuk, "Recently, most community infections have occurred in Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi, showing a significant difference in the reproduction number between the metropolitan area and other regions."

The reproduction number is an indicator that shows how many people one infected patient transmits the virus to. If the number is 2, it means one patient infects two others. Therefore, if the reproduction number exceeds 1, the infection can spread.

Head Jung explained, "Non-metropolitan areas, where no major outbreaks have recently occurred, maintained a reproduction number below 1, around 0.5 to 0.6. In contrast, the metropolitan area showed a slightly higher range, fluctuating between 1.2 and 1.7, even reaching 1.8." The reproduction number in the metropolitan area is about three times that of other regions.

Head Jung warned, "As social gatherings increase and contact between people rises, the links of infection multiply, leading to an increase in 'n-th generation infections,' which raises the risk of a large-scale outbreak," urging caution.

Earlier, in early May, the domestic COVID-19 reproduction number was reported to have been maintained between 0.5 and 0.7 nationwide. However, starting with the cluster infection from Itaewon clubs in Seoul, followed by outbreaks at the Coupang logistics center in Bucheon, Gyeonggi, small church gatherings in the metropolitan area, and door-to-door sales companies, the reproduction number in the metropolitan area recently surged to as high as 1.9.

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