Authorities: "Still Risky to Return to Normal Life... Elderly Should Avoid High-Risk Places" (Update)

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, is holding a regular briefing on the domestic occurrence status of COVID-19 and the interim investigation results of confirmed patients.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The quarantine authorities urged that, considering the current situation of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the risk factors for returning to normal life are still significant, and that the chain of regional infections must be firmly blocked through social distancing.

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said at a regular briefing on the domestic COVID-19 situation on the afternoon of the 4th, "If the current outbreak is not firmly controlled, the high transmissibility means that an exponential surge can occur at any time."

This concern comes amid the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases related to the Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, and the Liberation Day rally in downtown Seoul exceeding 1,600, as well as the continued sporadic cluster infections nationwide. As of 12 noon on the day, the number of confirmed cases related to Sarang Jeil Church increased by 13 from the previous day, reaching a cumulative total of 1,152. There have been 27 additional transmission sites, with 193 confirmed cases arising from these locations.

Regarding the Liberation Day rally in downtown Seoul, 11 additional cases were confirmed, bringing the cumulative total to 473. There are 11 additional transmission sites, with a total of 119 related confirmed cases.

In addition, sporadic cluster infections continue, including 36 cumulative cases related to Jinheung Global in Dongjak-gu, Seoul; 25 cumulative cases related to the Dongwoo Building Cordyceps business briefing in Buk-gu, Daegu; 22 cumulative cases related to a kimchi factory in Cheongyang-gun, Chungnam; 13 cumulative cases related to an officetel (real estate auction) in Yeonje-gu, Busan; 6 cumulative cases related to Seoul Asan Medical Center; 5 cumulative cases related to a children's book company in Namyangju, Gyeonggi; and 5 cumulative cases related to an indoor pojangmacha (tent bar) in Ansan, Gyeonggi.

The high proportion of elderly among recent confirmed and severe/critical patients is also a point of concern for the quarantine authorities. According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the day, the number of patients in isolation over the past two weeks increased by 2,204, with the age distribution showing 940 people (19.9%) in their 50s, 924 people (19.5%) in their 60s, and 482 people (10%) in their 70s. Among the 157 severe/critical patients as of the day, 37 are aged 80 or older, 67 are in their 70s, and 30 are in their 60s, with those aged 60 and above accounting for more than 85% of the total.

Head Jung urged, "Elderly people or those with underlying diseases, who are more likely to progress to severe illness if infected, should avoid participating in high-risk facilities or events held by door-to-door sales companies, small gatherings, multi-level marketing companies, real estate investment briefings, virtual currency briefings, and various investment-related briefings or health product sales briefings to prevent COVID-19 infection."

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