Severe Cases Dropped to Single Digits, Now 25... Health Authorities Issue 'Warning' (Update)

Central Disease Control Headquarters Regular Briefing
Severe and Critical Patients: 9 in Early June → Currently 25
Impact of Pioneer Churches and Door-to-Door Sales Company Cluster Infections

On the 14th, citizens are waiting for COVID-19 testing at the Walking Through screening clinic in Jungnang-gu Office, Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Daeyeol] The number of severe patients with the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), which had dropped below 10 earlier this month, has increased to 25. As cluster infections in the Seoul metropolitan area, including the door-to-door sales company Richway in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, have increased, the number of patients in serious condition has also risen.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 17th, as of midnight, there are 15 severe patients and 10 critical patients. The number of patients at severe stage or above had decreased to 8 as recently as June 3. The health authorities classify patients who are on mechanical ventilation or using an artificial heart-lung machine called ECMO as critical, and those who can breathe on their own but have decreased oxygen saturation requiring oxygen therapy or have a fever of 38.5°C or higher as severe. By age group, 18 patients are aged 60 or older, 5 are in their 50s, and 2 are in their 40s.

The increase in severe and critical patients, mainly among the elderly, raises concerns for potential fatalities, which is a matter of concern for health authorities. At the regular briefing that day, Jeong Eun-kyung, head of the Disease Control Headquarters, explained, "There are 25 patients at the severe stage or above, and 23 of them have occurred since May," adding, "They were infected at recently prevalent metropolitan pioneer churches, religious gatherings, and Richway."

In the case of the first cluster infection in a nursing facility in Seoul, the Seongsim Daycare Center in Dobong-gu, 12 additional people who were being managed as contacts were confirmed positive. The cumulative number of patients increased to 34. Among them, 24 are facility users, and the rest are staff, family, and acquaintances. All 24 users are aged 60 or older, but the health authorities reported that there are no severe patients in this cluster yet.

Director Jeong stated, "The most urgent and important task is to curb the spread in the metropolitan area and protect the elderly and those with underlying conditions," and urged, "Not only in the metropolitan area but also all elderly people nationwide should refrain from attending gatherings and conduct religious activities online until the infection wave subsides and it becomes safe."

On the afternoon of the 10th, medical staff are taking a short break at the COVID-19 screening clinic set up in the parking lot of Dalseo-gu Public Health Center in Daegu.<이미지:Yonhap News>

176 Cases at Richway · 67 Cases at Yangcheon-gu Sports Facility
Authorities: Daejeon Door-to-Door Sales Company Unrelated to Richway

Meanwhile, four additional confirmed cases among contacts in isolation related to Richway have been reported, bringing the total number of cases to 176. Regarding the sports facility in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, one more case was added, totaling 67. In relation to a teacher at Icheon Jeil High School in Icheon-si, Gyeonggi Province, a Seoul resident acquaintance of the teacher was confirmed positive. There were no additional confirmed cases among the 1,288 contacts, including students, after comprehensive testing.

Regarding the Guseong Psychological Center in Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi Province, one staff member and three visitors tested positive. The infection route here has not yet been identified. At the Dreaming Church in Galma-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon, four people including the pastor were confirmed positive, and a total of 11 people, including four visitors, tested positive at a door-to-door sales company in Daejeon. So far, this door-to-door sales company has not been confirmed to be related to Richway.

Director Jeong explained, "In elderly care facilities, infections are often introduced through workers and then spread, and management of shared items such as wheelchairs was insufficient," adding, "It has been identified that elderly care facilities often receive infections from family or church gatherings and operate activities with a high risk of transmission."

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