One in Four COVID-19 Patients with Unknown Infection Routes

Central Disease Control Headquarters COVID-19 Regular Briefing
"Among 2,209 cases in 2 weeks, 552 have unknown infection sources"

Social distancing measures, which were strengthened due to the resurgence of COVID-19, will be downgraded to Level 2. However, since the Chuseok holiday period is expected to be a critical factor, quarantine measures will be reinforced to respond to the potential spread. On the 13th, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun stated at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting held at the Government Seoul Office, "Considering social fatigue and the effectiveness of the quarantine measures confirmed so far, we plan to adjust social distancing in the metropolitan area to Level 2 for the next two weeks." The photo shows citizens wearing masks and taking a walk at Seokchon Lake in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on the same day. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] It has been revealed that patients with the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) whose infection routes are unknown account for one out of every four new confirmed cases in the past two weeks.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 15th, 2,209 new confirmed cases were identified over the two weeks from the 2nd to this day. Among them, 763 people, or 34.5%, were infected through contact with previously confirmed patients, and 618 patients, or 28.0%, were infected through group outbreaks.

Patients under investigation accounted for 552 people, or 25.0%. Being under investigation means that even after a confirmed diagnosis and basic epidemiological investigation, the infection link of the patient has not been found. This proportion reaching 25% is the first time since the quarantine authorities began compiling data. Although there are cases where the source of infection is identified and reclassified after a time lag, there are also cases where the source cannot be found even after two weeks.

The quarantine authorities consider maintaining the proportion of patients under investigation within 5% as one of the main target indicators. A high number of patients with unknown infection sources means there is a high possibility that the virus is spreading widely at the community level.

The number of COVID-19 patients in critical or severe condition was counted at 158. Among them, 137 people, or 87%, are aged 60 or older. The increase in elderly patients due to the outbreak centered around churches in the metropolitan area last month has led to a rise in patients with worsening symptoms. However, after reaching the highest level of 175 on the 11th, the number slightly decreased.

While some patients improve or pass away, new patients also deteriorate into critical or severe conditions, so the authorities expect the current level to continue for the time being. According to the quarantine authorities, 41 patients have died this month, and in the past week alone, the number reached 26.

At a briefing on the same day, Kwak Jin, head of the Patient Management Team at the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said, "Although the number of critical and severe patients is expected to decrease, since many patients are aged 60 or older, the number of critical and severe patients may decrease slowly for the time being, but deaths are expected to continue occurring for the time being."

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