Cluster Infections + Overseas Influx... Second Wave Likely to Accelerate

30 New Cases Imported from Overseas
61 Contacts of Russian Seafarers Identified
10 Additional Community Infections in Seoul and Daejeon
Transmission Faster than Contact Tracing
Health Authorities Struggle to Cut Transmission Chains

On the 23rd, a crew member was holding a mobile phone on board the Russian-flagged refrigerated cargo ship A (3,401 tons) docked at Gamcheon Port in Busan. Among the 21 people on the ship, including the captain, 16 tested positive for COVID-19. Busan city health authorities reported that 61 people have been identified as close contacts of the confirmed cases on the Russian-flagged refrigerated cargo ship.

[Asia Economy Reporters Choi Dae-yeol and Jo Hyun-ui] The link to the cluster infections of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in South Korea remains elusive, and with the increase in imported cases, concerns that the resurgence could arrive sooner than initially expected have become a reality. Despite enhanced quarantine measures mainly applied in the Seoul metropolitan area, no significant effect has been observed. Additionally, as the weather warms, mask-wearing has become more lax and indoor activities have increased, further complicating efforts by health authorities. On the 23rd, President Moon Jae-in held a quarantine measures meeting with Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon and other metropolitan area local government heads, judging that if the recent surge is not contained, controlling the situation in the future could become difficult.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of midnight on the day, out of 46 new confirmed cases, 30 were imported from overseas. Sixteen Russian seafarers aboard a Russian vessel that arrived at Busan Port were confirmed positive in a cluster, with 26 cases detected during the quarantine stage alone. This is the second time this month that imported cases have reached the 30s, following 31 cases on the 20th.

Typically, imported cases are easier to manage since contact tracing can begin at the point of entry. However, in the case of this Russian-flagged fishing vessel, there are numerous contacts including members of the Busan Port Workers' Union who boarded the ship and ship repair workers, raising the possibility of additional cases. According to the city, the number of close contacts with confirmed cases reached 61 by the morning of the day.

Cluster infections linked to door-to-door sales companies that emerged in the Seoul metropolitan area and Daejeon are also seeing additional cases. On the day, 10 new confirmed cases were identified in Seoul and Daejeon, all community infections, mostly related to door-to-door sales companies such as Richway. Many patients were confirmed positive after visiting promotional centers of these sales companies, and recently, a significant number of infections have occurred through contact with these patients. The transmission speed is faster than contact tracing and epidemiological investigations, causing difficulties for health authorities. In particular, the Daejeon door-to-door sales cluster has spread not only to nearby Chungnam and Sejong but also nationwide to Seoul, Jeonbuk, Gyeonggi, and Gwangju, making it difficult to cut the transmission chains.

The government has taken additional measures to block imported and community transmissions. Starting from the day, entry restrictions for foreigners arriving from Bangladesh and Pakistan have been strengthened. New visa issuance and flights will be reduced, effectively restricting entry except for diplomats and businesspeople. Furthermore, door-to-door sales companies, logistics centers, large academies, and buffet restaurants, which have seen multiple confirmed cases, will be designated as high-risk facilities from 6 p.m. on the day.

Business owners or users violating quarantine rules at high-risk facilities will face fines up to 3 million KRW and may be subject to closure orders. Additionally, Seoul city plans to conduct testing for a total of 200,000 people, including about 50,000 vulnerable individuals such as homeless people and undocumented foreigners, until the end of the year to prevent the spread of infections in the metropolitan area.

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