Domestic COVID-19 New Cases at 307... "Timing for Step 3 Escalation Not Decided" (Update)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] New cases of COVID-19 continue to surge daily. Additional confirmed cases are continuously emerging among attendees of the Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, and the downtown Gwanghwamun rally, with cluster infections spreading nationwide in places such as Incheon and Gimhae, Gyeongnam.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced on the 26th that 307 new domestic cases were confirmed, with 13 imported cases, bringing the total cumulative confirmed cases to 18,265. There were 82 newly released from isolation, totaling 14,368 (78.66%) released from isolation, and currently 3,585 remain in isolation. There are 43 patients in severe or critical condition, and 2 deaths were reported, bringing the total death toll to 312 (fatality rate 1.71%).

Confirmed cases related to Sarang Jeil Church continue to increase. As of 12 PM on the day, 18 additional cases related to the church were confirmed, bringing the cumulative total to 933. So far, confirmed cases due to secondary transmission related to Sarang Jeil Church have occurred at 23 locations (8 religious facilities, 5 nursing facilities, 2 medical institutions, 6 workplaces, etc.), with a total of 130 confirmed cases at these sites. The government is conducting epidemiological investigations at a total of 186 locations to prevent further spread.

Confirmed cases related to the large-scale rally held on the 15th in Seoul’s Gwanghwamun and other areas increased by 26, bringing the cumulative total to 219.

Cluster infections are also rapidly occurring across Seoul. Regarding the company Muhangu Group in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 3 additional people tested positive, increasing the total confirmed cases to 47. At Darae Auction, a real estate auction company located in Jung-gu, Seoul, 4 more cases were confirmed, bringing the total to 16.

Regarding the group trip in Gimhae, Gyeongnam, the first confirmed case was reported on the 25th, and so far 9 people have tested positive. In relation to a bathhouse in Jin-gu, Busan, after the first confirmed case on the 23rd, 6 more were confirmed during contact tracing, bringing the total confirmed cases to 7.

As confirmed cases re-enter the 300s and the spread reaches a critical point, concerns about hospital bed shortages are growing. The Central Clinical Committee (Clinical Committee), composed of COVID-19 experts, stated yesterday that if the current spread continues, the shortage of hospital beds will become severe, and active consideration should be given to discharging patients who show clinical improvement. In response, Jeong Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, stated, "For asymptomatic and mild patients, home quarantine is also being considered."

Furthermore, Head Jeong said regarding the possible escalation to social distancing level 3, "It has been one week since level 2 was applied, so we are analyzing its effects and the trend of new cases to consider whether level 3 measures would be effective, and this is under discussion at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters. The timing for escalation has not yet been decided."

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