Continued Impact of Military Unit Infections and Seoul Cluster Outbreak... 60 Cases in Five Days (Comprehensive)

On the 22nd, the platform heading to Seoul at Ildong Terminal in Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do is quiet.

[Asia Economy reporters Choi Daeyeol and Jo Hyun-ui] On the 22nd, eight new confirmed cases of COVID-19 were identified at a frontline unit of the 8th Division in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province. In Seoul, community transmission continued to spread steadily, with 29 new confirmed cases from community infections reported in a single day. There were also 34 cases imported from overseas.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of midnight on this day, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases increased by 63, bringing the total to 13,879. Although there was hope that the situation was calming down after the number dropped to 26 on the 20th, the daily new cases rose to around 20 again on this day following 45 cases the previous day. It is the first time in five days since the 17th (60 cases) that daily new cases have reached the 60s.

At the military base in Pocheon, two soldiers who returned from leave earlier this month showed fever symptoms on the 20th and tested positive the following day. After conducting comprehensive testing within the garrison, six additional cases were confirmed. Some test results are still pending, so more confirmed cases may emerge. The infection route has not yet been identified, and it is reported that one of the initial two symptomatic soldiers went out on the 10th. This is the first time in 20 days that confirmed cases have appeared in a military unit. In Seoul, existing cluster infections continue to cause steady new cases, including at a senior day care center in Gangseo-gu and an office in Gangnam-gu.

Among the imported cases, many patients were found among arrivals from countries subject to strengthened quarantine measures, including 11 from Uzbekistan, 7 from the Philippines, and 4 from Kazakhstan. Additionally, 5 confirmed cases were found among arrivals from the United States. Of the 34 imported cases, 15 are Korean nationals and 19 are foreigners. Nineteen cases were detected during quarantine procedures, while the remaining 15 tested positive while in isolation at their local residences or temporary living facilities. The number of patients who have recovered and been released from isolation increased by 55 from the previous day to 12,698. The death toll rose by one to 297 compared to the previous day.

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