Chain Reaction of Group Infections... Continued Trend of Small-Scale Outbreaks (Update)

On the 8th, citizens are receiving diagnostic tests at the screening clinic of Eunpyeong-gu Public Health Center in Seoul, where a small-scale cluster infection of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was reported to have occurred at a cathedral. Seoul City announced on the same day that four people were confirmed positive in connection with Susaek Cathedral in Eunpyeong-gu. At this cathedral, one parishioner was first confirmed positive on the 6th, followed by three more parishioners and acquaintances testing positive on the 7th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] As new confirmed cases of COVID-19 related to Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, and the Liberation Day rally in downtown Seoul continue to emerge, the health authorities remain on high alert amid ongoing large and small cluster infections mainly in the metropolitan area.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) on the 8th, while investigating contacts related to Sarang Jeil Church, 4 additional positive cases were confirmed as of 12 noon, bringing the total cumulative confirmed cases to 1,167. Among the confirmed cases related to this church, 469 were aged 60 or older, accounting for 40.2% of the total.

The number of confirmed cases related to the Liberation Day rally in downtown Seoul also increased by 7 to 539. Confirmed cases were reported in 14 cities and provinces, including 263 in the metropolitan area covering Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon.

Additional Confirmed Cases Occur in Various Places Including Call Centers, Religious Facilities, Kindergartens, and Small Gatherings

Additional confirmed cases are emerging even among previously identified cluster infection cases. Regarding the BF Mobile telemarketing call center in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, 4 more cases were confirmed, bringing the total number of confirmed cases including the index patient, call center employees, family members, and acquaintances to 22.

In the case of Coupang Songpa 2 Camp (delivery camp) in Songpa-gu, 4 more confirmed cases were added, totaling 10. Also, in relation to an online mountain cafe gathering in the metropolitan area, 5 more infections were confirmed, increasing the cumulative confirmed cases to 10.

Regarding Yeji Kindergarten in Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi Province, after a family of four was confirmed positive on the 5th, additional confirmed cases have been reported among a study material teacher, kindergarten students, and their families, totaling 8 confirmed cases so far.

In connection with the Illyeonjeongjong Buddhist missionary center in Yeongdeungpo-gu, after a staff member was first confirmed positive on the 5th, a total of 12 cases have been confirmed to date. The health authorities are investigating the source of infection, identifying that 2 staff members and 10 worshippers who attended the service were infected.

At Susaek Catholic Church in Eunpyeong-gu, after one worshipper was confirmed positive on the 6th, contact tracing revealed 3 additional confirmed cases among other worshippers and acquaintances, increasing the total confirmed cases to 4.

Elsewhere in Daejeon, confirmed cases are continuing to emerge centered around a health supplement briefing session. Since the first confirmed case on the 1st related to the 'Unicity' health supplement briefing, 9 additional cases have been confirmed. A connection with an infection at a well-being sauna in Jung-gu, Daejeon, has also been identified, bringing the total confirmed cases for these two clusters to 18.

Among the 3,487 confirmed cases reported over the past two weeks since the 26th of last month, 781 cases (22.4%) remain under investigation with unknown infection routes.

Meanwhile, according to the CDCH, since the 16th of last month, 5 confirmed cases have been identified among arrivals from China. Three are Chinese nationals and two are Korean nationals. All were asymptomatic upon entry and tested positive for COVID-19 during screening.

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