COVID-19 New Cases Back to 300s After Three Days... Will the Alert Level Be Raised to Stage 3? (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seol Gina Jo] As the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) spreads across the country, the number of new confirmed cases recorded in the 300s again on the 26th after three days.

Since the 14th, when cluster infections began in earnest, the number has been in the triple digits for 13 consecutive days. With confirmed cases surging daily centered around Seoul Seongbuk-gu Sarang Jeil Church and the Gwanghwamun rally on Liberation Day, new cluster infection cases have also been confirmed outside the metropolitan area, raising warning signs of a 'nationwide pandemic.' The so-called 'unknown source' patients, whose infection time and place cannot be identified, are also rapidly increasing, raising the possibility of raising social distancing to level 3.

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight on this day, 307 new domestic confirmed cases and 13 imported cases were confirmed. The total cumulative number of confirmed cases was counted at 18,265 (2,763 imported cases).

This is the first time in three days that new confirmed cases have been in the 300s. Since the 14th of this month, when cluster infections in the metropolitan area intensified, the daily new confirmed cases have been 103 → 166 → 279 → 197 → 246 → 297 → 288 → 324 → 332 → 397 → 266 → 280 → 320, maintaining triple digits for 13 days. The total number of new confirmed cases during this period is 3,495.

Looking at the infection routes of new confirmed cases, there were 307 domestic cases and 13 imported cases. By region, new confirmed cases were concentrated in the metropolitan area with Seoul at 110, Gyeonggi at 92, and Incheon at 27. Following were Gangwon with 18, Chungnam with 12, Jeonnam with 12, Gwangju with 7, Daejeon with 7, Jeonbuk with 7, Gyeongnam with 5, and Busan with 4. Daegu, Jeju, and Ulsan each increased by 2 cases. Sejong and Chungbuk reported zero cases.

Looking at specific infection cases, in addition to existing cluster infection groups including Seoul Seongbuk-gu Sarang Jeil Church, new cluster infection cases have been confirmed outside the metropolitan area as well. As of noon the previous day, a total of 915 people related to Sarang Jeil Church in Seoul were confirmed. The cluster infection at this church has already spread to 22 places including medical institutions and daycare centers. The number of confirmed cases related to the large rally held in Gwanghwamun, Seoul on the 15th of this month increased to 193 as of the previous day.

Additionally, in Cheonan, Chungnam, 17 people were infected in relation to Soonchunhyang University Hospital’s affiliated Cheonan Hospital, a specialized infectious disease hospital, and in Suncheon, Jeonnam, about 10 confirmed cases emerged related to a fitness center, confirming cluster infections outside the metropolitan area as well.

As new cluster infection cases, large and small, continue to occur and COVID-19 shows signs of spreading in all directions, the government is considering various measures to strengthen quarantine, including the possibility of raising 'social distancing' from level 2 to level 3.

Among the 13 imported cases on this day, 3 were confirmed during quarantine at airports or ports. The remaining 10 tested positive while in self-quarantine at their residences or temporary living facilities in Gyeonggi (6), Seoul (2), Daegu, and Jeonnam (1 each).

The number of patients who have been declared recovered and released from isolation increased by 82 from the previous day to 14,368. Currently, 3,585 people are in isolation, and 43 are in critical condition. Two new deaths occurred, bringing the total number of deaths to 312 (fatality rate 1.71%).

The quarantine authorities announce the daily domestic COVID-19 patient statistics based on midnight of the day at around 10 a.m. every day.

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