Park Neung-hoo "26 Cluster Infections in the Capital Area After May... Concerns of Re-epidemic" (Update)

Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo is speaking at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting for COVID-19 response held on the morning of the 15th at the Disaster Situation Room of the Government Seoul Office.<이미지:Yonhap News>

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Park Neung-hoo, the first deputy head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Minister of Health and Welfare), stated on the 15th that "Among the 27 major group infections since May, 26 have all occurred in the Seoul metropolitan area," assessing that the recent spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is in a serious situation.

Before the meeting on the same day, Deputy Head Park said, "Infections originating from unregistered door-to-door sales businesses have spread to at least eight places within the metropolitan area, including shelters at Chinese-Korean churches and call centers," expressing concern. The group infection that started at Richway in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, has spread to other small groups such as churches, call centers, and language institutes, increasing the number of confirmed cases. Patients have also appeared in regions outside the metropolitan area, such as Gangwon and Chungnam.

In particular, this group infection involves a higher number of elderly people compared to previous cases like the Itaewon clubs or Bucheon Coupang logistics center, raising the possibility of greater casualties. Deputy Head Park said, "Among new patients in the past two weeks, about 40% are elderly aged 60 or older, indicating an increase in infections among the high-risk elderly group," adding, "Infections are spreading through daytime care facilities and nursing homes mainly used by the elderly, and the increase in severe patients among middle-aged and elderly people with underlying diseases is expected to raise the fatality rate, which is a major concern."

To prevent the spread of group infections in the metropolitan area, the government has indefinitely extended the strengthened quarantine measures that were originally set to be applied until the previous day. This will continue until the number of new confirmed cases drops to single digits. Restrictions on gatherings at high-risk facilities such as karaoke rooms and entertainment bars will be extended, and the use of electronic entry logs will be mandatory. Vulnerable facilities such as goshiwons, jjokbang villages, and hambak restaurants will be subject to intensive inspections in cooperation with local governments. Anticipating a continued increase in patients for the time being, hospital beds and residential treatment centers for patient care were also inspected.

Deputy Head Park said, "Concerns about a resurgence of COVID-19 are increasing," and added, "The quarantine authorities will strive to suppress patient occurrences to a level manageable by the medical system, while preparing for a resurgence by stably securing treatment resources such as quarantine supplies, treatment beds, and medical personnel."

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